Raiders trade Kirk Cousins to Vikings, promote Fernando Mendoza to QB1

The Las Vegas Raiders traded quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings in a deadline deal, a move that establishes Fernando Mendoza as the team's new starting quarterback. The transaction, finalized on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, involved the Raiders sending Cousins to Minnesota in exchange for a 2027 draft pick. This trade resolves the quarterback situation in Las Vegas, where Mendoza was previously held back from his first NFL start despite the team's struggles.

Mendoza Takes Over Starting Role

Following the trade, Mendoza is confirmed as the new starter for the Raiders. Prior to the deadline, head coach Klint Kubiak had maintained that there was "no controversy" regarding Cousins starting against the New York Jets, stating that the team had a plan but no specific timeline for Mendoza's debut. Kubiak noted that Cousins was playing very well and that it was important to continue developing Mendoza while keeping the team in the playoff race.

The decision to trade Cousins came after the Raiders suffered a 35-21 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams, which dropped their record to 3-4. At that time, Kubiak had indicated the team was considering all options. However, the subsequent trade to the Vikings, who were seeking stability at the quarterback position, cleared the path for Mendoza to assume the starting role immediately.

Cousins, 38, had been leading the league with 16 touchdown passes and ranking third in passing yards with 1,877 at the time of the trade. The move marks a significant shift for the Raiders, who now look to Mendoza to lead their offense moving forward in the season.