After spending three weeks on the open market, quarterback Kirk Cousins joined the fourth franchise of his 14-year NFL career Thursday. Cousins is heading to Las Vegas, where he could open 2026 as a bridge starter in front of soon-to-be No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza.
The Raiders brought Cousins in on a contract that could max out at five years and $172MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, but there is no chance of that happening. This will likely end up a a one-year, $20MM investment in the four-time Pro Bowler. The Falcons, who cut Cousins last month, will handle $8.7MM of the tab. The Raiders gave Cousins a $1.3MM salary and a fully guaranteed $10MM roster bonus that they will pay out on the third day of the league year in 2027.
Two days after the Raiders pay Cousins’ bonus next March, a two-year, fully guaranteed option worth $80MM will kick in if he is still on their roster, Pelissero reports. That makes this a three-year, $81.3MM pact on paper, Pelissero notes, but it is highly improbable his option will vest. The Raiders added two void years to the end of the deal, meaning Cousins will be on their books through 2030.
While the 37-year-old Cousins’ stock is down after back-to-back down seasons in Atlanta, he and agent Mike McCartney did well for themselves yet again. The two have been masterful in negotiations, evidenced by the fact that Cousins will go past Tom Brady for second on the NFL career earnings list when he collects his $10MM bonus next year (via Spotrac). Cousins will climb over the $341MM mark then, while Brady wrapped up his legendary 23-year career at $333MM.
Brady, now a part-owner of the Raiders, is behind only Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford for now. Having already taken home over $408MM, the 38-year-old Stafford could secure a raise before next season. Doing so would make it even more difficult for someone to catch him in the near future.
Cousins entered the league as a Washington fourth-round pick in 2012, the same year the franchise chose Robert Griffin III second overall. Griffin’s once-promising career flamed out as a result of injuries, leading to Cousins taking over as Washington’s full-time starter in 2015. Cousins went on to play 2016 and ’17 under the franchise tag, earning approximately $44MM in those two seasons. He then left for a Vikings offer worth $84MM over three years. That was the first fully guaranteed contract in league history, but it was not the last enormous payday for Cousins. He later pulled in two more Vikings extensions that combined for three years and $101MM.
Cousins’ Vikings tenure came to an end when he left for the Falcons’ four-year, $180MM offer in 2024. Despite awarding Cousins $100MM in guaranteed money, the Falcons cut him halfway through the pact. Cousins will now attempt to put together a renaissance season in Las Vegas, where he will play a staggering 11th straight season on a fully guaranteed contract.
Can someone explains how this works?…Why does Tua have to sign a Vet minimum after getting released? But Kirk can sign for $20 million? Or did Tua not have to sign a Vet Minimum?
It’s a one year $1.3 vet minimum deal. He gets 10 million if he’s on the roster next season…which he won’t be.
Read the article. The $10 mil bonus is guaranteed. He will be cut after they pay that out before the big money kicks in. Crazy deal for a washed up player who is a statue in the pocket after all the injuries, but a good guy to mentor a rookie.
I wouldn’t bet on that. Cousins can still play.
Miami still owes Tagovailoa $50+ million guaranteed for the 2026 season. Anything he signs for is subtracted from that guarantee. I don’t believe Cousins had any guarantees left in his deal with Atlanta.
He did, $10m, which is why the extra guarantee is for the 2027 season and Atlanta is paying $8.7m for this season.
Cousins is a MUCH better QB! Tua is one concussion away from the afterlife. Get real.
Adam Schefter sensationalizing again to get views. Once upon a time he was useful.
Shefter is just agent PR now.
After a successful audition after Matt Ryan left CBS, I’m wondering how much money Cousins is leaving on the table for not committing to a broadcast career.
He’s still got football in his blood, and he proved while in Atlanta, that he can still play at a very high level.
Can’t wait to see his response when the Raiders take a QB with the first pick.