Raiders trade Kirk Cousins to Vikings and hand Fernando Mendoza the job

The Raiders traded Kirk Cousins to the Vikings on Tuesday afternoon for a third-round pick in the 2027 draft, and within the hour they had named Fernando Mendoza the starting quarterback. Two moves, one decision. At 4-5, Las Vegas has stopped spending on this season and started spending on the next one.

The team announced the deal with one string attached: it completes pending Cousins passing a physical. The numbers he leaves behind are the strange part. In nine starts he went 202-of-315 for 2,340 yards with 20 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 97.1 rating. That is not a quarterback who lost his job on merit. He lost it because 20 touchdowns bought four wins, and because the No. 1 pick in the draft was taking notes instead of snaps.

A third-rounder for a rental in his 15th season is a fair price. Raiders Beat, citing Jordan Schultz, reported that the asking price opened at a second and that Minnesota first tried to pay with the third it acquired from Philadelphia in the Jonathan Greenard trade. Las Vegas said no and took the Vikings' own pick, which should land higher. Schultz traced Minnesota's urgency to Carson Wentz's night against Buffalo.

Mendoza arrives with a resume and almost no film. He won the Heisman and a national title at Indiana and threw 41 touchdowns as a junior, then sat all autumn behind Cousins. His pro career so far is one appearance against New England: 48 yards on 75 percent passing. General manager John Spytek, naming him the starter, said the rookie "passed every test" and had forced "a very hard decision today." Klint Kubiak said Mendoza's work habits "also allowed us to make this trade."

The other deadline story is what did not happen. Maxx Crosby is still here. Schultz reported that teams called and were told Crosby is not being moved, and Crosby had already said publicly that he plays for the Raiders. Cousins' roster spot went to rookie defensive tackle Tim Keenan, signed to the active roster from the practice squad after three straight game-day elevations.

Mendoza's first start comes Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Pacific against Seattle at Allegiant Stadium, per the Seahawks, with the 5-4 defending champions on the other side. Watch whether the physical clears in Minnesota, and watch how heavily Kubiak leans on the run game while a rookie finds his feet.