Cousins says Raiders QB room is collaborative, not mentor

Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins downplayed the idea that he was brought to Las Vegas primarily to mentor rookie Fernando Mendoza, describing the dynamic as a collaborative effort among the team's quarterbacks. Cousins made the comments on Tuesday during the Raiders' mandatory minicamp, emphasizing that the narrative of him serving as a dedicated mentor to the No. 1 overall draft pick is overstated.

"It's more of a narrative than it is the truth," Cousins said. "Nobody's leading more than someone else. I think we're all a working force together, helping each other, giving feedback, giving perspective and giving another set of eyes." The 37-year-old Cousins, who signed with the Raiders in early April after being released by the Atlanta Falcons, said he is also learning from his younger teammates, including Mendoza and fourth-year quarterback Aidan O'Connell.

The Raiders selected Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Indiana, with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23. First-year head coach Klint Kubiak has previously indicated a preference for a rookie quarterback to learn behind a veteran, a philosophy that aligns with the team's signing of...