Despite being expected to draft Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft, the Las Vegas Raiders signed veteran QB Kirk Cousins on Thursday, just three weeks before the draft. That went in line with the earlier claim that the team isn’t planning to rush Mendoza to action in the NFL.
However, the move communicated a lack of full trust in the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner to many observers in the NFL. Among them is Jason Whitlock, who weighed in on the move on his “Fearless” podcast on Thursday. The analyst cast doubts on his potential of getting selected as the No. 1 pick.
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“This is a red flag for Fernando Mendoza,” Whitlock said. “This is a red flag about drafting a guy who’s got all the intangibles and has enough talent to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. A Super Bowl-winning quarterback, possibly, in the NFL. But he’s not a No. 1 overall pick.
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“Because when you have a No. 1 overall pick, regardless of position, you don’t sign a side piece. You don’t call up your ex-girlfriend and say, ‘Hey, what are you doing? Where have you been? Who have you been talking to? Hey, let me fly you out.’”
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The signing of Kirk Cousins is not expected to stop the Tom Brady-led Raiders from selecting Mendoza as the draft’s top pick later this month. Having the veteran around also comes with a lot of benefits for Mendoza, as he gets the needed time to come to full speed in his rookie season.
Jason Whitlock believes Fernando Mendoza is being overdrafted at No. 1
Fernando Mendoza is widely projected as the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft following the historic season he led Indiana to in 2025. While he’s considered the best passer in the draft, Jason Whitlock doesn’t believe he’s good enough to be drafted as the first-overall pick.
“Fernando has awesome intangibles,” Whitlock said. “Guys like Jason Whitlock love Fernando Mendoza for all the intangibles, all the Tom Brady-like qualities that he has, but we remember that those Tom Brady intangible qualities got Tom Brady drafted in the sixth round.
“They’re going to get Fernando drafted No. 1 overall. I love Fernando Mendoza, bottom of the first round, top of the second round, loving. He’s being overdrafted at No. 1 overall, and the Raiders just told you that by signing Kirk Cousins.”
Mendoza is a coveted talent for being a highly accurate and intelligent pocket passer with elite timing and top-notch anticipation. However, weaknesses like his average arm strength and limited mobility under pressure have made a handful of analysts cast doubt on his ability.
Edited by Farouk Yusuf
