The Raiders start Cousins, so Mendoza's cards lose their clock

Raiders coach Klint Kubiak named Kirk Cousins the Week 1 starter against Miami on September 2. General manager John Spytek said of rookie Fernando Mendoza that "his time is coming, but he's got to earn it every day".

Sports Collectors Digest reported on August 31 that Mendoza's cards had already repriced for a takeover. A 2026 Topps Now autograph /10 sold for $10,400 USD on 86 bids. A Black Foil /10 in PSA 10 brought $9,701 USD on 105.

His cheapest rookies had not moved a dollar six days later.