Chiefs’ Rashee Rice Will Not Face NFL Suspension
Following Rashee Rice‘s 2025 suspension in connection with felony charges from a hit-and-run incident, the Chiefs wide receiver faced ugly allegations of domestic violence made by his ex-girlfriend.
The alleged victim, Dacoda Jones, filed a civil suit accusing Rice of repeatedly assaulting her between December 2023 and July 2025. Last month, she displayed photos of injuries that Rice allegedly inflicted on her. Jones, who has two children with Rice, claims most of the alleged abuse occurred when she was pregnant. Accusations first emerged in January.
On Friday, however, the NFL concluded Rice “has not engaged in conduct that violates the personal conduct policy,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. No suspension is coming at this time, per Schefter. This will be welcome news for Rice and the Chiefs, who have certainly run into a few high-profile off-field issues over the past several years. One season remains on Rice’s rookie contract.
Given the timing of this report, it certainly qualifies as a Friday news dump. Jones released photos that revealed bruises she alleged Rice inflicted. Rice, 25, was never charged with a crime. The NFL’s personal conduct policy has brought suspensions for players not charged criminally in the past, but in this case, the fourth-year wide receiver will not enter a second straight season with a suspension.
More to come.
Jags, Travon Walker Agree On Extension
Not long after James Gladstone expressed confidence some Jaguars extensions would be doled out, the highest-profile player included in that group has a deal in place. The Jags are extending Travon Walker, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.
The sides agreed on a four-year, $110MM extension, Rapoport adds, confirming $77MM will be guaranteed and $50MM locked in at signing. This deal comes two years after the previous Jacksonville front office agreed to terms with Josh Hines-Allen.
Details of these agreements regularly trickle out slowly, but we have the key particulars upfront. That certainly indicates satisfaction with the terms from the player’s side, with Walker’s agency confirming the details.
At $27.5MM per year, Walker becomes the 12th-highest-paid edge rusher. This market settles far south of where last year’s boom moved the EDGE market, with Aidan Hutchinson — chosen one spot after Walker in 2022 — being one of the key parties in that 2025 sea change. It also comes in below where the Trent Baalke regime settled with Hines-Allen, who is tied to a five-year deal that averages $28.25MM per annum.
Considering Trevor Lawrence is on a $55MM-per-year deal, extending a second edge rusher in this realm represents a substantial commitment from the Jaguars. Walker also is coming off a down season. That certainly stood to help the team in negotiations, and Rapoport indicates talks have taken place for weeks. Walker also checks in 12th in full guarantees but 10th in total guaranteed money. It will be important to know what the early guarantee triggers are on this deal — if any exist.
A report coming out of the league meetings indicated preliminary Jags talks with Walker, Parker Washington and Brenton Strange were unfolding. We certainly made it far past the preliminary stage, as Walker’s camp accepted an offer. It is worth wondering if the former No. 1 overall pick would have been amenable to a deal outside the top 10 at his position had he stayed on the trajectory he was on from 2023-24.
Leading off a brigade of Georgia defenders chosen in the 2022 first round, Walker broke through in 2023 with 10 sacks and 19 QB hits. Although the Jaguars declined in 2024, Walker stayed on track by racking up career-high marks in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (13). While the Jags rocketed to a 13-4 season in 2025 under Liam Coen, Walker regressed. He totaled 3.5 sacks, eight TFLs and 13 QB hits. His 19 QB pressures ranked 66th last season.
When Hines-Allen signed his five-year, $141.25MM extension, the salary cap stood at $255.4MM. It is now at $301.2MM. Had Walker come through with a third straight double-digit sack season, the Jags would have been unlikely to keep his second contract under $30MM per year. Jacksonville will pay Walker more than Denver authorized for two-time Pro Bowler Nik Bonitto in 2025 (four years, $106MM). That is a notable win here for a player without any Pro Bowl accolades.
It is impossible to examine Walker’s career without Hutchinson comparisons. We heard before the draft the Jags were split on choosing Walker’s upside over Hutchinson’s higher floor, one that stemmed from high-end production at Michigan. Baalke went with Walker, and the Lions benefited.
Hutchinson has two Pro Bowls on his resume and came back from a 2024 broken leg with a career-high 14.5 sacks to go with 35 QB hits last season. During the 2025 campaign, Hutchinson signed a monster Detroit extension (four years, $180MM). That deal, which included a defender-record $141MM guaranteed, trails only Micah Parsons among defensive players.
Baalke’s misstep gave the Lions a dominant pass rusher; it also helps the Gladstone regime sign a more affordable extension here. Walker still brings upside at 25, but he and Hutchinson certainly appear to be in different tiers as impact players.
This move is for a Baalke draftee, but it represents the third significant extension for Gladstone, who paid trade acquisition Jakobi Meyers weeks after landing him at the deadline. Meyers was brought in under Gladstone and Coen, while Walker joins offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen as a Baalke investment paid by the current regime.
The 2024 Jags offseason brought extensions for Lawrence, Hines-Allen and Tyson Campbell. Jacksonville’s current front office managed to move off the Campbell deal in a deadline trade for Greg Newsome, who has since signed with the Giants. Taking the Campbell contract off the payroll, the Jags also let Devin Lloyd walk in free agency. These decisions helped create room to afford Walker’s second contract. Walker was headed into a fifth-year option season ($15.2MM).
Gladstone and Coen will bet on Walker bouncing back in 2026. Hines-Allen, 28, has not notched a double-digit sack season since his franchise-record 17.5-sack slate in 2023. But he rebounded as a pressure artist under Anthony Campanile, tallying 48 — fifth in the NFL. The Jags will hope Walker (23rd and 22nd in pressures in 2023 and ’24, respectively) has a similar gear to reach in this defensive scheme.
Cardinals, Titans, Chiefs Meet With LB Arvell Reese
The lack of quarterback depth in this year’s draft class has minimized potential trade-up talk, as the Raiders are all set to select Fernando Mendoza to open the draft. But some interesting pass-rushing prospects check in behind the Heisman winner in this year’s prospect pool.
While others are more accomplished rushers, Arvell Reese carries perhaps the biggest upside. That has led the Ohio State hybrid performer to be mocked to the Jets at No. 2 overall frequently. If the Jets are to determine Reese’s developmental track is not for them, other teams in the top 10 would await. A few are doing research on the standout linebacker.
We already heard of Reese meetings with the Jets, Giants, Saints and Cowboys. He has now also met with the Cardinals, Titans and Chiefs, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. Reese would fill needs in Arizona, Tennessee and Kansas City. The three-year Buckeyes cog is far from the only high-end pass-rushing prospect available, but he is probably the most unique player among this group.
As our Ben Levine noted in January, Reese mostly played linebacker last season at Ohio State. He only logged 97 snaps at the EDGE position in 2025 but still ranked seventh in Division I-FBS pressure rate (18.5%). Reese, who joins linebacker mate Sonny Styles (an ex-safety) in having some position versatility, has expressed a preference to work as a pass rusher in the NFL. Considering his limited reps there, teams will need a clear plan to develop a high-ceiling prospect. But Micah Parsons‘ ascent will undoubtedly be on teams’ minds when evaluating Reese; Abdul Carter also turned a linebacker background into a No. 3 overall draft selection after moving to an EDGE role.
The Cardinals have been regularly given Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa in mock drafts. The recent national championship game starter would fill a glaring right tackle need opposite Paris Johnson Jr., but the Cards could also use help opposite Josh Sweat on the edge. Arizona has a history of selecting hybrid linebacker types, though those choices came under previous GM Steve Keim. Still, the Cardinals drafted the likes of Deone Bucannon, Haason Reddick, Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins and used each at multiple positions.
A veteran evaluator recently informed SportsBoom.com’s Jason La Canfora that Reese will be at his best in a 3-4 EDGE role. Neither the Chiefs nor Titans use that scheme, creating some questions about his fit. Though, any team that drafts Reese — thanks to the proliferation of nickel and dime sets — will regularly use him as an edge rusher in a four-man front. The Chiefs and Titans will just use that as their base defense.
More to come.
Jets Meet With RB Jeremiyah Love
While the Jaguars and Seahawks respectively let Travis Etienne and Kenneth Walker leave in free agency, the Jets kept Breece Hall off the market via the franchise tag. Hall extension talks are slated for after the draft.
It would stand to reason the Jets will go just about anywhere but running back at No. 2 overall, and a few tantalizing options await the rebuilding team in that draft slot. New York has been primarily linked to pass rushers there. But the team is still doing its due diligence on the top prospects who will be available at 2.
[RELATED: Jets Hopeful About Hall Extension]
Running back Jeremiyah Love met with the Jets over breakfast recently, according to the New York Post’s Brian Costello. Saquon Barkley and Reggie Bush are the only running backs to be drafted in the top two over the past 20 years, and while Love’s floor may be the Commanders at No. 7 (with the Giants viewed as heavily in play at 5), it would be a near-shocking development to see him go to the Jets at No. 2.
A scenario in which the Jets trade down slightly from 2 and select Love could conceivably be in play, though a team with many needs doubling up at running back would be a questionable roster-building route. Then again, this Jets regime did not draft Hall. A tag-and-trade transaction would stand to be in play if the Jets made the unlikely decision to draft Love, but teams will have largely filled their running back needs by the time the draft ends. If the Jets were going to make such a move with Hall, striking before free agency would have been the better plan. But it seems likely an extension comes to fruition.
Scoring 40 touchdowns over the past two seasons, Love amassed 1,652 scrimmage yards in 2025 and 1,362 in 2024. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry in both seasons and exits South Bend with 433 carries, keeping his mileage relatively low for a prospect on this level (Barkley left Penn State with 671 career totes).
The Jets have been more closely tied to Arvell Reese or David Bailey at No. 2, with previous intel pointing to — especially after the Jermaine Johnson trade — New York going with an edge rusher with this premium draft slot. The Jets met with Reese last week. Love will be likely to follow Bijan Robinson as a top-eight pick, but if he is to head to the Big Apple, it will be more likelier he dons a blue uniform for his home games than a green one.
Panthers Open To 2026 Bryce Young Extension?
Although Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud became extension-eligible this offseason, early buzz pointed to neither 2023 first-round quarterback signing an extension this year. Nothing appears to have changed on the Stroud front, but Young may not be completely closed off with regards to an early Panthers deal.
Were the 2023 No. 1 overall pick eager to sign a second Panthers contract before this season, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes the team could be amenable to accommodating him.
A February report indicated the Panthers were more likely to wait until after 2026 — when they see more from the diminutive passer — to make a decision on paying him, but the team could certainly have an opportunity to give the inconsistent player a club-friendly deal before the 2026 season begins. Though, Jones notes 2027 still seems the more likely point when Young will sign a Carolina extension — if, in fact, that comes to fruition.
Paying a quarterback early for this purpose would still bring quite the risk, seeing as the cost and guarantees would be high — even if Young would not approach the top of the soaring QB market. He quarterbacked the NFL’s 27th-ranked offense last season and needed 16 starts to (barely) clear 3,000 passing yards. His 6.2 yards per attempt represented a career-high mark, illustrating where the former Heisman winner was to start his career. Both parties might be better off by waiting here. The Panthers are picking up his $25.9MM fifth-year option, buying more time.
Young doing an extension now would seemingly be a bet against himself. A stronger 2026 season would catapult the Alabama alum into better position to score a true upper-crust QB extension, when the cap will probably be — based on its recent growth — beyond $320MM. The Panthers will also have a better chance to maximize Young in 2026 — provided new play-caller Brad Idzik proves capable — by having him on a rookie contract.
Traditionally, teams pay first-round quarterbacks after their third seasons. The player receives a sizable guarantee ahead of Year 4, rather than being tied to a rookie salary when a new deal is allowed, and the team lands security. But Young’s uneven play looks like it will move him to the Tua Tagovailoa route. The Dolphins waited until Year 5 to extend Tagovailoa, who had submitted uneven work through three seasons and struggled from a health standpoint. Young has not faced issues on the latter front, but his 22nd-place QBR finish in 2025 marked a career high. The Panthers, who also waited until Year 5 to pay Cam Newton, should want to see if the scrutinized QB can at least replicate that season before making a big offer.
The Newton deal — agreed to during Jerry Richardson‘s ownership tenure and with Dave Gettleman as GM — aged far better than the Tagovailoa contract. A rising QB market led the Dolphins to give Tagovailoa a four-year, $212.4MM extension that came with $93.17MM fully guaranteed $167.17MM guaranteed in total. That came after the Dolphins had more information (via Tua’s fourth-year performance), compounding a misstep.
The Panthers seeing Young deliver another unremarkable season could move them to a Tagovailoa-like decision, but the fallout ($99.2MM in dead money) from that recent divorce will undoubtedly serve as a reminder to front offices about QB overpays. The Panthers have plenty to consider when determining Young’s value over the next year or so.
Young, 24, even being in the extension conversation does represent growth after Carolina benched him two games into his second season. Trade rumors followed. Young proving worthy of a new deal would bring a comeback victory of sorts for a Panthers franchise that took plenty of heat for drafting him over Stroud — largely based on influence from owner David Tepper. But the Tagovailoa development serves as a warning for the Panthers and other teams contemplating big-ticket contracts for marginal QBs. This season will need to reveal plenty about Young’s upside, or the Panthers may need to consider moving on — a la the Buccaneers and Titans (Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota) after those passers played out fifth-year option seasons.
Bears Will Not Receive Draft Compensation For Ian Cunningham Hire
The Falcons’ decision to hire Ian Cunningham as their new general manager led to an initial decision by the NFL not to award compensatory draft picks to the Bears. Standard practice in recent years for minority hires has been for their previous employer to receive a third-round selection in two consecutive years.
The league’s stance in this case was that Cunningham will hold the GM title but will not operate as Atlanta’s top decision-maker in the front office. Indeed, Matt Ryan will serve as the team’s president of football and in doing so will outrank Cunningham and the rest of the Falcons’ management team. The Bears reached out to the NFL to discuss the mater further, but a reversal will not be forthcoming.
“The matter is now closed following the club’s appeal,” a league statement reads (h/t Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). “The NFL informed the Bears today they will not receive compensatory picks. The policy is designed to provide picks for the Primary Football Executive position. The League determined Mr. Cunningham did not fill that role with the Falcons as it is defined in League rules.”
Ryan’s return to Atlanta brought with it questions about his ability to oversee the wide-ranging changes brought on during the 2026 hiring cycle due to his lack of expereince. Cunningham and new head coach Kevin Stefanski are now in the fold, and they will look to bring about improved play relative to the Raheem Morris/Terry Fontenot tandem. Cunningham’s first NFL general manager opportunity will come about with his hometown team.
The Bears will again be led in the front office by general manager Ryan Poles for 2026. Following Cunningham’s departure, Jeff King was promoted to the role of assistant GM. Those two and the rest of Chicago’s staff will move forward knowing no compensation will be coming the team’s way. The Bears currently own seven picks in April’s draft.
Jets Unlikely To Draft QB Ty Simpson; Cooper Rush On Team’s Radar
Since it was learned Dante Moore would be staying in college for the 2026 season, the Jets’ quarterback approach for the upcoming draft has been a question mark. New York owns two first-round selections, but it remains to be seen if strong consideration will be given to using one of them on Ty Simpson.
The one-year Alabama starter has drawn a wide range of opinions regarding his draft stock, but interest has been shown by a number of teams. That includes the Jets, as illustrated by the workout Simpson recently conducted with the them. At this point, though, it may come as a surprise if Simpson were to wind up in New York.
During his latest appearance on Jets Final Drive, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic predicted the Jets will not select Simpson given the risk involved with doing so. New York could elect to wait until next year’s draft to identify a long-term starter. That is an approach expected of other teams as well with next year’s class held in much higher regard than this year’s. As such, a veteran backup to trade acquisition Geno Smith will be a strong possibility.
On that note, SNY’s Connor Hughes confirms (video link) the Jets’ preference was to sign Carson Wentz in free agency. Doing so would have reunited him with new offensive coordinator Frank Reich, but Wentz wound up remaining in place with the Vikings. The list of remaining free agents has been thinned out since the new league year began, but there are still a few veteran passers on the market.
Of those, Hughes names Cooper Rush as one to watch closely. The longtime Cowboys backup joined the Ravens on a two-year deal last spring, but things did not go according to plan during his time in the lineup. Rush was expectedly released in March, and he has not previously been linked to any suitors. The 32-year-old has made 16 starts and 42 appearances in his career, and he would be familiar with a backup gig in the event he signed on to be New York’s QB2.
Hughes adds that Tyrod Taylor is still well-liked in the Jets’ building. Another deal for the Jets’ 2024 and ’25 backup will be something to watch for as a result. Taylor, 36, made four starts last season following Justin Fields‘ benching; he has totaled 62 in his career. A low-cost contract allowing him to remain in the QB2 role would give New York a bridge tandem under center in advance of the 2027 draft.
Smith is in position to start for the Jets, something which was the case for his first two years in the NFL. How the team approaches the quarterback position over the coming weeks will be something to watch for, with a stopgap veteran seeming to be more likely than a high-profile draft investment at this point.
Broncos Do Not Intend To Trade WR; Team To Use Jonah Elliss At ILB
APRIL 3: The Elliss experiment at inside linebacker is not necessarily a permanent one at this point, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic confirms. If he does make a full-time switch to the middle, though, Kosmider notes a notable uptick in usage for Robinson could be expected. Needless to say, Denver’s draft approach at the second level of the defense will be impacted by the team;s plans on this front.
APRIL 2: Dependent on Courtland Sutton for a few seasons now, the Broncos lost two of their wide receiver regulars in the playoffs. Both Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant went down against the Bills. Franklin missed the AFC championship game, and Bryant did not see much time in the snowy conference decider. Denver then swung big at the position.
Two years after trading Jerry Jeudy to the Browns, the Broncos acquired one of his former Alabama teammates in Jaylen Waddle. The Broncos paid a hefty price to add Waddle, sending first- third- and fourth-round picks to the Dolphins for Waddle and a fourth. Waddle’s arrival gives the Broncos a key piece alongside Sutton, and it also creates a bit of a logjam for the defending AFC West champions at the position.
Two seasons remain on Franklin’s rookie contract, while Bryant is signed through 2028. Marvin Mims may be the most affected player here, as he and Waddle have comparable skillsets. Waddle’s is much more refined, of course, as the Broncos have been hesitant to use the playmaking talent regularly in a receiving role. One season remains on the former second-rounder’s rookie deal. But GM George Paton does not envision any trade taking place from this group to help the Broncos recoup draft capital.
Paton said (via the Denver Post’s Luca Evans) no consideration is being given to unloading one of the team’s auxiliary receivers following the Waddle acquisition. On one hand, it would be wise to consider a move to potentially build up a weaker spot on the roster via the draft. On the other, the Broncos are in a key spot after the Russell Wilson dead money came off the books and with Bo Nix tied to a rookie deal. With Nix on the 2027 extension radar, the Broncos’ roster math figures to change in the near future. Making sure this year’s team is covered at wideout, however, also makes sense.
Denver also re-signed Sean Payton favorite Lil’Jordan Humphrey last month. Humphrey joined Mims as Sutton’s primary sidekicks in the playoffs, though the blocking receiver may struggle for time thanks to the depth the Broncos now have at the position. Mims also makes his main contributions in the return game, and while he has flashed brightly as a receiver, the Broncos have not felt comfortable using him regularly on offense. Franklin (709 receiving yards in 2025) played 59% of Denver’s offensive snaps last season; Bryant (378) logged a 48% snap rate. Mims (322) came in at just 37%.
It is worth wondering if Mims is in Denver’s long-term plans now that Waddle is in town, and given his penchant for pivotal long-range receptions, a nice free agent market should form in 2027 should the Broncos not extend the Oklahoma alum by next March. Although the Broncos did unload 2024 contributor Devaughn Vele in an August deal with the Saints (bringing back fourth- and seventh-round picks), the club’s stance is to roll with a sudden surplus for 2026.
The Broncos are also deep at the edge-rushing spots, having both Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper signed long term. Jonah Elliss has operated as the team’s top rotational rusher, but after a five-sack rookie season, the former third-round pick totaled 2.5 in an injury-shortened 2025. The Broncos also drafted Que Robinson in Round 4 last year and have ex-UFLer Dondrea Tillman as a second-string OLB option. As a result, Payton said (via Denver Sports 104.3’s Andrew Mason) Elliss will see some time at inside linebacker this offseason.
While Robinson did not see much playing time as a rookie, Tillman totaled four sacks and nine QB hits (to go with two interceptions). He tallied five sacks as a rookie. Jonah Elliss, who recorded 12 sacks in his final Utah season, also has an apparent path to catching on at ILB. Two of his brothers — Kaden and Christian — are starting inside ‘backers. Payton also saw how the Eagles turned Zack Baun — who floundered as a Saints backup EDGE — into an All-Pro ILB. The Broncos will see how Elliss looks there this offseason.
This is the reverse move the team made with Baron Browning, who started his career inside before kicking to an OLB spot. Elliss ended up replacing Browning following an in-season 2024 trade. The Broncos are weaker at inside linebacker compared to their EDGE posts, though the team did re-sign Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad. Singleton is 32, while Strnad is entering an age-30 season. Jonah Elliss, the son of ex-Bronco D-tackle Luther Elliss, turns 23 tomorrow.
This will be an interesting experiment to follow in Denver, which still rosters hybrid linebacker Drew Sanders behind the expected starting duo of Singleton and Strnad.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo Weighing Multiple Free Agent Options
Kirk Cousins elected to join the Raiders yesterday. That took one of the top remaining veteran quarterbacks off the free agent market, leaving Jimmy Garoppolo among those yet to line up a deal.
Garoppolo has spent the past two seasons with the Rams, giving them an experienced backup to Matthew Stafford. A third Los Angeles contract is something the team is interested in, and that will no doubt be the case to an even larger extent with Cousins no longer available. Garoppolo appears to have other suitors as well, however.
The 12-year veteran is “weighing a few options” at this time, Nate Atkins of The Athletic notes. Garoppolo spoke with the Cardinals about a free agent deal, but talks did not yield an agreement. Arizona has since added Gardner Minshew to a depth chart already including Jacoby Brissett. The Cards will not be among the possibilities Garoppolo faces at this point, but another Rams accord could be one.
Atkins confirms Los Angeles would prefer a QB2 with starting experience as Stafford prepares to play at least one more season. The 2025 MVP enjoyed an encouraging run of durability this past season, but at this point Stetson Bennett is second on the quarterback depth chart. He has yet to make a regular season appearance despite being drafted in 2023. Another Garoppolo deal would certainly offer a greater degree of stability under center than relying on Bennett during a season in which the Rams will be eyeing another deep playoff run.
In 2024, Garoppolo took a contract worth $3.18MM. The 34-year-old played for a similar figure this past season. Another one-year contract can be expected, and it will be interesting to see if a Rams return is finalized in the near future. If not, other teams which were named as Cousins suitors could be in the mix as well. All parties may wait until after the upcoming draft before a deal winds up being worked out.
A full-time QB1 gig is not available at this point for Garoppolo, who most recently logged double-digit starts in a season in 2022. He represents one of the most experienced passers still on the market, though, and a number of teams could stand to benefit from adding him for the 2026 season.
Raiders, QB Kirk Cousins Agree To Deal
The Raiders’ interest in Kirk Cousins has indeed produced an agreement. A deal is in place, agent Mike McCartney announced on Thursday.
Vegas was identified yesterday as a suitor in Cousins’ case. The team remains on course to select Fernando Mendoza first overall in this month’s draft, but adding veteran insurance has been a goal this offseason. Head coach Klint Kubiak recently noted his preference for having Mendoza sit at the beginning of his NFL career, pointing to a signing such as this.
[RELATED: Details On Raiders’ Cousins Agreement]
Cousins has been on the market since his long-expected Falcons release. The four-time Pro Bowler did not wind up being traded during the 2025 offseason, setting up a second campaign in Atlanta. Cousins still wound up making eight starts this past season despite Michael Penix Jr. opening the year atop the depth chart. The Falcons proceeded with a cut in Cousins’ case, ending his tenure with the team halfway through a four-year, $160MM contract. Penix and Tua Tagovailoa will compete for the QB1 gig in Atlanta this summer.
No such training camp battle should be anticipated in Vegas given today’s news. Cousins will be tasked with handling starting duties while Mendoza begins his NFL acclimation period. A stint atop the depth chart at some point during the 2026 campaign can of course be expected for the Heisman winner, considering the timeline along which rookie quarterbacks enter the lineup in the modern NFL. For now, though, Cousins will prepare for a period where he is positioned to lead an offense.
Vegas traded for Geno Smith last offseason, reuniting him with head coach Pete Carroll. Nothing went according to plan on offense in 2025, though, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly did not last the full season. It came as no surprise when Carroll was fired immediately after the campaign ended, nor when it became clear Smith would not return for 2026. He was traded to the Jets, creating the need for a veteran acquisition. Cousins, who will be 38 by the start of next season, certainly fits the bill.
Prior to today’s Raiders agreement, the Packers, Rams and Steelers had been linked to Cousins. Each of those teams could stand to add an experienced passer to their depth chart, with Pittsburgh’s QB1 role uncertain until Aaron Rodgers‘ decision on his playing future is made. The backup spots in Green Bay and Los Angeles, meanwhile, will need to be filled by another free agent or a draft pick.
Cousins’ six-year Vikings tenure came to an abrupt end when he suffered an Achilles tear midway through the 2023 season. His preference would have been to remain in Minnesota, but the potential for a multiyear starting spot in Atlanta led to his free agent departure. Things changed unexpectedly when Penix was drafted shortly thereafter, and Cousins was replaced atop the Falcons’ depth chart late in his debut season with the team. In all, he made 22 starts with Atlanta and posted several numbers below his career average while totaling 28 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions.
Expectations will be tempered upon arrival in Vegas for Cousins as a result. He is already owed $10MM from the Falcons for 2026, however, so this deal may not require a major financial commitment on the part of the Raiders.