The Las Vegas Raiders are facing a major decision at quarterback. After opening the season 3-0, the team has lost four straight games, prompting growing calls from fans and analysts to replace veteran Kirk Cousins with rookie Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

While head coach Klint Kubiak has made it clear that Cousins will remain the starter for the Raiders’ Week 8 game against the New York Jets, debate over when Mendoza should take over continues to grow. Green Bay Packers All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons has now weighed in, offering a different take on the situation.

Micah Parsons Questions Raiders’ Potential Fernando Mendoza Move

Cousins’ individual numbers suggest he isn’t the primary reason behind Las Vegas’ struggles. Through seven games, the veteran quarterback has thrown an NFL-leading 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also holds a 78.9 PFN QB Impact Score, which ranks 14th among starting quarterbacks.

However, the Raiders’ offense has struggled to find its rhythm in what is now a four-game skid. The running game has provided little help, while the offensive line, which holds a 70.3 Impact Score and ranks 21st in PFN’s OL Impact Metric, has struggled to keep pass rushers away from Cousins.

Replacing him with a rookie might not solve either problem. Parsons made that point clear during his appearance on Bleacher Report’s show, questioning how Mendoza would fare in the same situation.

“I can’t totally say that [it’s Mendoza time], and here’s why. They haven’t really helped Kirk. So how can you help Mendoza? Kirk has 16 touchdowns, 5 interceptions. He’s playing well. He’s playing good enough to win football games. He has more touchdowns thrown than Patrick Mahomes (10 touchdowns),” Parsons remarked.

The bigger question for Las Vegas is when to shift its focus from winning games with Cousins to preparing its highly touted rookie for the future.

“I would say that’s from the back half of the season,” Parsons noted. “It’s not because of Kirk Cousins. And that’s why I say wins or losses can’t be decided on a QB. Can a QB give away a game? 100%. A QB could give away a game. If your defense don’t come with you, you’ll never keep rising. Can Mendoza change that on that defense? At one point, but I would just say not yet.”

After helping the team get off to a 3-0 start with several timely turnovers, defensive coordinator Rob Leonard’s unit has struggled badly over the past month.

Las Vegas has surrendered at least 30 points in each of its four consecutive losses. The Raiders have a 68.7 Defensive Impact Score, placing them 25th in PFN’s metric.

At 3-4, Las Vegas is still within reach of the AFC playoff picture. Making a quarterback change now could disrupt the locker room, especially when Cousins’ individual performances haven’t been the team’s biggest problem.