A successful starter for the majority of his 14-year career, free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins may have to settle for a backup job if he plays in 2026. The Raiders are potential suitors for the 37-year-old, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.
Las Vegas is widely expected to use the No. 1 pick in the draft on Indiana Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is already learning the team’s offense. Still, there is room on the roster for a veteran mentor. Aidan O’Connell, the Raiders’ lone QB under contract, does not fit the description. Cognizant of that, the Raiders attempted to sign 41-year-old Joe Flacco before he re-upped with the Bengals, according to Fowler.
Having struck out on Flacco, the Raiders’ attention could soon turn to Cousins. The four-time Pro Bowler has also been linked to the Packers, Rams and Steelers since the Falcons released him. The Packers (Jordan Love) and Rams (Matthew Stafford) have high-end starters, while the Steelers’ job is open. They are awaiting an answer from free agent Aaron Rodgers, their starter during an AFC North-winning 2025 campaign. If the 42-year-old Rodgers retires, Cousins may prefer to land in Pittsburgh. Considering career backup Mason Rudolph and 2025 seventh-rounder Will Howard are the Steelers’ only QBs, Cousins will be the favorite to start if he signs with them.
Although expectations are the Raiders will plug Mendoza in immediately, new head coach Klint Kubiak has left the door open for a veteran to start Week 1.
Discussing rookie signal-callers this week, Kubiak stated (via Myles Simmons of PFT): “I think in a perfect world, he’s watching a mature adult go and run an offense and run the team. But, the situation is, you might have that player, you might not have that veteran to show him the way. So he might come in and have to play immediately. But you’d rather him learn, learn before he gets in the game.”
That answer may appeal to Cousins, as could his familiarity with Kubiak and offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko. A Viking from 2018-23, Cousins spent part of his run in Minnesota working with both coaches. Kubiak combined for three years as the Vikings’ QBs coach (2019-20) and offensive coordinator (2021). Janocko succeeded Kubiak as Minnesota’s QBs coach in 2021. Cousins earned his third Pro Bowl nod that year after amassing 4,221 yards, tossing 33 touchdowns against seven interceptions, and posting a 103.1 passer rating.
While Cousins put up big numbers in both Minnesota and Washington earlier in his career, his performance has declined since he suffered a torn Achilles in 2023. Although Cousins reeled in a whopping four-year, $160MM contract with the Falcons in 2024, he only got halfway into the deal before they cut the cord. Cousins lost his starting spot to then-rookie Michael Penix Jr. late in his first season with the Falcons. Penix remained the Falcons’ starter until he partially tore his ACL in Week 11 last season, leading to Cousins regaining his old job to finish the campaign. Over 10 games and five starts, Cousins completed 61.7% of passes, threw 10 TDs against five INTs, and registered an 84.8 rating.
Sincerely doubt it with Carrs relationship with the coaching staff. He’s sitting on the sidelines ready to step in probably for less $$$.
Carr has to be traded as Saints still own his contract. It is a reason they let him keep money.
Not worth trading a pick for him as he is not going to be the guy in future. Saints also wouldn’t take any low pick for him.
I think the Saints would take a low pick for sure. a 6th or 7th rounder is better than nothing
Carr wants to also sign with a contender.
Any team starting Derek Carr is not a contender, LOL
the cornball Cousins and the pure-of-heart boy scout Mendoza taking to the sin city and winning over the wretched degenerates through exemplary behavior. Would make for a funny sitcom.
Hmmm. This is a interesting casting challenge but I’m looking at the young Michael Cimino for the Mendoza role and Chris Pratt as the Cousins character 🙂
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NO! Just roll with Aida until Mendoza is ready. If you’re a w fan you know.
*Aidan.
Agreed. AOC will accomplish as much as Cousins would for the limited time he’s needed and he’s already on the roster. Like picking Mendoza…no need to overthink this thing.
Exactly
He missed his window. As soon as jets signed Geno his options were down to MAYBE and I mean a strong MAYBE two teams tops
Why not just stay in Atlanta then? Seems like he’s being peddled off to these teams in similar situations with a young starter incoming for Vegas now
Disregard this. I have the memory of Tua apparently lol
The Raiders aren’t offering enough money to make it worth moving across the country, I bet it was something like one year, $3 million. I predict Cousins will shock everyone & announce his retirement sometime after the draft, I’d say June at the latest. He’ll say he’s doing it to spend more time with his family, since he’s already made something like $320 million. It only took him 14 years to do that, so why move the family from one city to another for backup money? I think he might just try TV for a year to see if that fits.