SerpApi.Org
The Raiders are expected to make Kirk Cousins the starting quarterback over Fernando Mendoza for 2026. General manager John Spytek has expressed his desire for a rookie quarterback to sit on the bench in his first season multiple times. So despite being taken first overall, the Heisman Trophy winner will likely start his career as a backup.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell tried to construct a team of reserves to see how competitive they would be. Barnwell took two players not expected to start from each team. Mendoza was one of three quarterbacks Barnwell selected, joining Joe Flacco from the Bengals and Jameis Winston from the Giants.
At 41 years old, Flacco is still competing in the NFL, but isn’t always good. He threw 15 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions across 13 games for Cleveland and Cincinnati last season, getting benched by the Browns and traded to the Bengals.
Winston was beaten out by Russell Wilson for the Giants starting job last season, then watched as rookie Jaxson Dart took over midseason. Winston started a couple of games after Dart was injured, but he has only made 19 starts across the last six seasons.
Mendoza has yet to play a down in the NFL (and may have to wait deep into the 2026 season), but his single season at Indiana provided enough hope that he can be a star in the NFL. Stars don’t stay on the bench for long, meaning Mendoza’s claim as the best backup quarterback in the NFL shouldn’t last long.
Can Malcolm Koonce reach his potential?
Barnwell’s second player from the Raiders reserves was edge rusher Malcolm Koonce, who will likely find himself as a second stringer in the new 3-4 defensive scheme.
Koonce has been a constant source of optimism for the Raiders defense. He flashed with six sacks in the last four games of 2023. But he missed all of 2024 due to an ACL tear and returned in 2025 as a backup, posting 4.5 sacks across 17 games.
Ultimately outside of that four game flourish to end 2023, Koonce has just 8.5 sacks in his other 52 career games. He has not provided the Raiders with a counter balance to Maxx Crosby on the pass rush.
But the potential still shines. Will his second year removed from his knee injury lead to a breakout season? The Raiders can hope.
