Raiderstation

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 6:19 am**

I don't love this. I get it, but I don't love it.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:24 am**

Be_Easy_25 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:18 am Two specific questions:

1. Has a #1 overall pick that is a QB ever sat his entire rookie season? If so, please list.

2. Has a #1 overall pick that is a QB ever not been QB1 on week 1? If so, please list.

Jared Goff (2016, Los Angeles Rams)
Didn’t start Week 1 — the Rams opened with Case Keenum.
Goff didn’t debut until later in the season.
Baker Mayfield (2018, Cleveland Browns)
Began as the backup to Tyrod Taylor.
Took over in Week 3 and never gave the job back.
Kyler Murray (2019, Arizona Cardinals)

Started Week 1 (included for contrast — most recent #1 QBs do start immediately)
Trevor Lawrence (2021, Jacksonville Jaguars)

Started Week 1
Bryce Young (2023, Carolina Panthers)

Started Week 1

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:24 am**

I don't want to wait 17 months to open my Christmas present.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:27 am**

I think Carson Palmer was the last first overall to sit a season. It's been a while since a first overall pick didn't start game but I think you can look at Drake Maye, who was the third overall pick, as a guy who was probably more highly rated pre-draft than Mendoza and he sat for about 4 games I think. Most draft analysts would have him as the first overall pick this year if it were between he and Mendoza.

I think the most likely scenario is that Cousins starts the season as the starter, and Mendoza finishes it. When the transition happens might be down to how much Cousins has in the tank - he looked awful earlier last year. and more serviceable later on. Coming back from an achilles is no joke..... he couldn't even really drop back from center fast enough.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:30 am**

Rabidraider wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:19 am Cutting AOC we save $3,674,000 I believe. Which would offset some of Kirks money and let us draft a QB to develop in the late rounds if they want. Dead cap is only 127k

It's actually very possible that Cousins is $2.5 million cheaper than O'Connell because of contract offsets with the Falcons.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:30 am**

Kirk already buying in..

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:30 am**

KillerRaider30 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:24 am I don't want to wait 17 months to open my Christmas present.

Smart money says October. So about 6 months.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:30 am**

Head scratcher to me. Why wouldn't they just sign him (Rivers, Tannehill, Foles,other old QB) to work with him daily (Klint must know someone he would trust). Pay him like a player (and even have him practice with him and wear a red jersey). Just have that person be a personal tutor. If we have to go to a backup (meaning we are not winning games), Aidan is fine.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:31 am**

Be_Easy_25 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:18 am Two specific questions:

1. Has a #1 overall pick that is a QB ever sat his entire rookie season? If so, please list.

2. Has a #1 overall pick that is a QB ever not been QB1 on week 1? If so, please list.

1. no, not in recent history.

2. Yes, Tyrod Taylor was QB1 for the Browns before being injured week 3 forcing Mayfield onto the field. That is the most recent one as far as I can tell. Prior to that Goff had sat 9 games behind QB1 Keenum before securing the job. Goff has never been in a season since then as anything else but QB1 and only missed one game at all current to this last season.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:33 am**

chucker wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:30 am It's actually very possible that Cousins is $2.5 million cheaper than O'Connell because of contract offsets with the Falcons.

Its like trading AOC for Cousins and getting money back....

Not bad...

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:35 am**

Rabidraider wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:24 am Jared Goff (2016, Los Angeles Rams)
Didn’t start Week 1 — the Rams opened with Case Keenum.
Goff didn’t debut until later in the season.
Baker Mayfield (2018, Cleveland Browns)
Began as the backup to Tyrod Taylor.
Took over in Week 3 and never gave the job back.
Kyler Murray (2019, Arizona Cardinals)
Started Week 1 (included for contrast — most recent #1 QBs do start immediately)
Trevor Lawrence (2021, Jacksonville Jaguars)
Started Week 1
Bryce Young (2023, Carolina Panthers)
Started Week 1

Thank you kind sir for the help, and not responding like the other twerp did.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:37 am**

chucker wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:27 am I think Carson Palmer was the last first overall to sit a season. It's been a while since a first overall pick didn't start game but I think you can look at Drake Maye, who was the third overall pick, as a guy who was probably more highly rated pre-draft than Mendoza and he sat for about 4 games I think. Most draft analysts would have him as the first overall pick this year if it were between he and Mendoza.

I think the most likely scenario is that Cousins starts the season as the starter, and Mendoza finishes it. When the transition happens might be down to how much Cousins has in the tank - he looked awful earlier last year. and more serviceable later on. Coming back from an achilles is no joke..... he couldn't even really drop back from center fast enough.

I could see a couple things at play here. The first being that Mendoza hasn’t really played under center a ton, and Kub’s offence spends a ton of time there. There’s likely a decent learning curve there for him. The 2nd being that it’s a new offence, new center calling protections - may wind up using Kirk as a crash test dummy while the offence goes through its growing pains.

In terms of duration, I still think Mendo has a chance to win the starting job for week 1. Assuming he doesn’t - it’s probably a matter of whether we’re winning with Kirk.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:38 am**

Attyla wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:23 am yes, mediocre....as in that is the guy we got. Not the guy he was but the current version. I believe Cousins did not show up for voluntary workouts last year because he got all pouty over Penix being picked the previous season and not wanting to be there.

I get that, my friend, but this isn't the same situation he was facing in Atlanta. He was brought there to start, and paid accordingly, only for the Falcons to surprise everyone and draft Penix. He knows what's going on here, he has to know or he's a moron. He's choosing to come here to work with Mendoza, Kubiak, and Brady, likely sprucing up his soon-to-be coaching resume.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:38 am**

NoThanksSir wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 6:55 am If I put myself in Cousins shoes, this is clearly the end of the road, and how I handle this bridge assignment could determine my career options after playing. Dude has made enough money where he could just invest well and never work again, but I'm sure he will want to work.

I hope he takes this assignment as:

-Prove I still understand the game at a high level
-Once Mendoza starts prove I can be a valuable asset to the QB and staff with a clipboard in my hand so that I'm a candidate for QB assistant roles

Framed that way, I don't think Cousins needs to be selfless to help Mendoza's development. He can probably help with that simply by learning as much as he can about coaching from Kubiak

That's ideal but Flacco's out there changing end of the roads.

My #1 thing is not to put Mendoza into a situation where he is a battered QB.
I do think the new O structure will help.
I do think better OL coaching will help, probably quite a bit.
We have made some improvement to the talent on the OL.
But if all the above were to fail, I want someone else's body paying this price. (Sounds diabolical)

But once we know he can function behind that line, he needs to be in there.

Cousins could be helpful or be an ass, I have to assume this was vetted and at least right now agrees to be helpful.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:40 am**

I'm less concerned about RT to start the season now. I have nothing against Cousins, but I don't really care if he gets pulverized while they sort out the oline.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:42 am**

chucker wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:40 am I'm less concerned about RT to start the season now. I have nothing against Cousins, but I don't really care if he gets pulverized while they sort out the oline.

lol, got a good chuckle out of this. Unfortunately, it’s true.

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