Vikings trade for Kirk Cousins opens door for Fernando Mendoza

The Raiders are finalising a trade sending Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings for a third-round pick, clearing the way for rookie Fernando Mendoza to make his first NFL start against Seattle on Sunday. The move gives the first overall draft pick a chance to take charge of the offence and begin showing what he can do in meaningful game situations.

Cousins helped Las Vegas win its first three games and kept the team competitive, but the Raiders have since lost five of six and remain a game below .500. Minnesota, whose defence is described as among the league’s best, gains an experienced quarterback, while Raiders coach Klint Kubiak gets eight games to assess and develop Mendoza ahead of next season. Cousins had also given the rookie a close view of his preparation and how he handled winning and losing streaks.