Raiders GM John Spytek: Kirk Cousins Will Have to Compete to be Team’s QB1

John Spytek will not pretend the quarterback room in Las Vegas is settled, and he will not pretend Kirk Cousins is being handed anything. The Raiders general manager tells Rich that Cousins is the most proven arm on the roster, that he will get the first reps, and that everything after that is a meritocracy.

The conversation starts on Fernando Mendoza, with Rich noting how the Indiana quarterback emoted on the Fox postgame after beating Ohio State and how genuine he came across. Rich connects a dot, or tries to, and asks if Mendoza's authenticity reminds Spytek of Cousins, given the Raiders just signed Kirk. Spytek does not bite on the cause-and-effect, but he confirms the type. The Raiders are looking for prospects who show up as themselves, who pair authenticity with work ethic and production, and who earn the respect of a locker room because of all three. Mendoza, he says, fits that mold.

Then Spytek pivots to Cousins the player. Kirk tore the Bucs up his two years in Atlanta, threw for what Spytek estimated was 800 yards across two games against Tampa, and still has good football left. The quarterback room, Spytek says, is the most important room in sports, and the Raiders are loading it up with people who can throw it and who behave like real people.

Rich pushes on the obvious. Cousins is going to want a Week 1 start. What has Spytek told him with the league assuming a quarterback is coming first overall to Las Vegas. Spytek says of course Kirk wants that, and he would not want anyone in the room who did not want it. The plan is simple. Cousins is the most proven guy. He gets the first reps. He has familiarity in Clint's offense from their time together as QB coach and coordinator, so he has a leg up. Then the best man plays. Spytek even jokes about the Spartan-versus-Wolverine math in Las Vegas, signing three Michigan State players this offseason and finally one Michigan man, and says he will not hold Kirk's Sparty pedigree against him.

Rich plants the flag on the next question. If Spytek drafts a quarterback, does that rookie also get a shot to be the Week 1 starter. Spytek does not flinch. Best man plays. He name-checks Aidan O'Connell, the Purdue product who once stood in Michigan's way in a Big Ten championship game and stared down the barrel against the eventual national champs. Spytek admits an affinity for Big Ten players, then teases that more Big Ten answers are coming in the next few days. Rich hears Indiana loud and clear.