After waiting nine games, Fernando Mendoza will finally make his NFL starting debut against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks this Sunday. That's thanks to the Kirk Cousins trade to the Minnesota Vikings, an official validation that the Las Vegas Raiders believe the 2026 No. 1 overall pick is ready to get valuable game reps over the second half of the season.

According to Mendoza, he never gets to this stage without the veteran Cousins' mentorship. The rookie quarterback showed his traded mentor some love on Wednesday.

Among other things, Mendoza thanked Cousins and his family. He credited Cousins with welcoming him to the NFL with open arms and for taking the time to really teach him the ins and outs of being a professional quarterback, knowing the Raiders would be Mendoza's team in due time and that Cousins was just a temporary stopgap.

It sure seems like the Raiders hit home runs. Both with the mature quarterback they drafted and the quarterback they signed to temporarily mentor him:

Like any young quarterback still learning the ropes, Mendoza has a long way to go before he becomes the Raiders' franchise talisman. At the very least, this heartfelt message to Cousins suggests he has a good head on his shoulders and is ready for that challenge.