Fernando Mendoza inherits a 4-5 Raiders team and NFL history offers two wildly different outcomes

Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza is set to make his first start for the 4-5 Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday against Seattle, after the team traded Kirk Cousins to Minnesota. A comparison of past rookie quarterbacks in similar situations highlights sharply different outcomes: Jared Goff struggled after taking over for the Rams, while Lamar Jackson quickly led Baltimore to a division title. Mendoza’s debut comes in Week 10.