Cowherd Backs Raiders’ Reload: ‘I’m A Fan Of Fernando Mendoza And The Raiders’

FOX Sports analyst Colin Cowherd endorsed the Las Vegas Raiders’ offseason overhaul on Thursday, singling out the franchise’s simultaneous hiring of a new head coach and general manager as evidence of a long-overdue organizational correction. Speaking on “The Herd,” Cowherd said the Raiders had produced both a strong draft and a strong offseason, adding that a veteran-rookie quarterback pairing gave the team a credible path forward after a 3-14 finish under Pete Carroll.

Las Vegas used the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on quarterback Fernando Mendoza, then added veteran Kirk Cousins in free agency following Cousins’s two-year stint with the Atlanta Falcons. Cousins fills the spot vacated by Geno Smith, who was traded to the New York Jets. The Raiders also drafted running back Mike Washington Jr. and wide receiver Malik Benson, and signed wide receiver Jalen Nailors in free agency, giving Mendoza additional offensive support as he prepares for his first professional season.

Cowherd tempered his praise with a broader caution about highly drafted rookie quarterbacks, noting that organizations coming off prolonged losing often treat such players as franchise saviors rather than developing them methodically. “Where you get into trouble with rookie quarterbacks taken high is when you view them as saviors,” he said. The Raiders’ decision to pair Mendoza with an experienced starter in Cousins appears designed to manage that transition, though the question of who opens the season as the starter remains open.

Las Vegas also retooled its defense around edge rusher Maxx Crosby, adding safety Treydan Stukes, cornerback Jermod McCoy, and others through the draft, while signing defensive end Kwity Paye and linebacker Nakobe Dean in free agency. The Raiders open the 2026 regular season at home against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13.