APRIL 6: The move is official, as the Raiders have announced the signing.
APRIL 2: 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.
Cool. Cousins, Mendoza, O’Connell and a UDFA arm post draft. Go Raiders!
Imagine the UDFA is Diego Pavia
Could also be Nussmeier, Klubnik or Payton
Doubt they use a pick that high on a second rookie QB.
Udfa
Sure, but that’s not Nussmeier, Klubnik, or probably Payton.
Those three will probably be drafted. Pavia could be a priority UDFA. He could also fit in with the Falcons if they’re basing their offensive line on having a lefty QB.
Nuss is going round 5 at worst, but I suspect earlier. I also think Payton will for sure get drafted. Maybe Klubnik falls, but I could also see him going in the 4th to someone who thinks this was an outlier season.
Yeah, Klubnik strikes me as someone who could be a decent backup for a team willing to give that job to someone who isn’t a former starter.
Potentially. We have no clue haha
Nuss and Payton will both be drafted above the 5th forsure Klubnik most likely will still be drafted
All of those guys are going before the end of the 5th.
There’s no way either of those four guys don’t get drafted with how weak this draft is, especially at QB.
Makes the most sense for all parties. Mendoza and Kubiak get a veteran quarterback who works hard and understands the system. Cousins doesn’t get a big contract and a dome, but at least he gets dry weather and no state taxes.
I thought the Raiders played in a dome?
You’re right. My bad. Thats what I get for commenting before my first coffee is done.
I’ve been there but for me it’s Ive usually had a few beers.
Me too, but not when it’s 9:30 am.
Also (Homer Simpson voice) does whiskey count as beer?
Its all 5 o’clock somewhere
I really thought Cousins would wait for the Pitts QB job before signing with LV.
Waiting on Rodgers for a chance to play in rough conditions when they might draft a quarterback anyway was probably losing its appeal.
@Oooof. I think Rodgers is coming back to the steelers. He’s not going to release anything, but i bet he’s talking to McCarthy last year like he was with tomlin, and they have another handshake deal. Raiders is the only starting job available. now it’s up to cousins not losing it by week 4.
Tomlin isn’t really relevant anymore. I do expect Rodgers to come back. I also expect Mendoza to start before week four.
@Oooof. Tomlin isn’t relevant anymore just using it as a example like last year. No information came out, and he signed before preseason started. Why would they trade for Pittman with no QB and Rodgers knows McCarthy’s system. I’m sure cousins knows more than what’s been reported. No point to bring in Mendoza if the defense is giving up 40 points. I say sit him, and get another high draft pick
Mendoza’s development is more important than anything else. If he’s ready to get starter reps, you start him and don’t worry about next year’s draft status.
@Oooof. Wasn’t really talking about the draft pick so much. I think the raiders are going to suck again even with the spending on free agency. So why let Mendoza get killed, but they probably will like everyone else that screws up QBs
Cousins does suggest they’re prepared to sit him for a bit if need be. I don’t have much faith in the Raiders organization, but I believe in Kubiak.
I think they’ll go with Howard before drafting a QB in the first 4 rounds or so. McCarthy has continually repeated his admiration of the kid while the franchise —well, the owner, really—hopes Rodgers will come back
Then it must be true.
🙄
Cousins can teach Fernando how to make hundreds of millions by simply being an above average QB, well spoken, and polite!
I think the raiders would kill for an above average qb play at this point.
And coaching as well.
Cousins has had a really good career when you look at his numbers. Almost 45,000 yards, 300 TD’s, 67% completion rate. He’s a master at getting great contracts wherever he lands, but now just hanging on as a backup from here on out.
Kirk ‘Likes that comment’! I agree, solid numbers in the regular season; but not so much in playoffs. Similar to Dak. Baker is in that mix as well.
Ok Arty
Which makes him way better than above average.
I’ll never understand why Cousins gets held to a higher standard than other QBs.
Maybe it’s because Cousins came into the league with the Washington Redskins, card-carrying members of NFC East. No different from Nick Foles being anointed the “Next Big Thing”.
Lol who ever anointed Foles that?
I agree – a large majority of football fans don’t want to give Cousins any credit as if he was their younger brother – when he first came into the league he was an interception machine but became one of the most accurate passres of all time – there are 26 QBs in the Football Hall of Fame and probably another half dozen or so are waiting to hear their name called – in the next bunch are Flacco and Russel Wilson better than Captain Kirk because they won Super Bowls ?- Right Now Captain Kirk is Top 20 in Passing Yards – Top 15 Passing TDs – Top 15 Passer Rating – Top 7 Completion % – Top 20 Comeback Wins – Only Top 40 in overall Wins – While I don’t think is a Hall of Famer he is one of the first out and among the top 40 of all time
About 500 QBs have started games in the NFL in the Super Bowl era which puts Captain Kirk solidly in the top 10% of his profession
Rivers and Cousins will both be in one day off of their numbers imo.
This makes…sense? Are we sure its the raiders?
If Mark Davis appears without the Lloyd Christmas haircut then we’ll know things are actually changing for good with them.
I’ve seen this a thousand times. If cousins struggles first 3-7 games Mendoza is going to be thrown into the fire as starter
I’m guessing Mendoza is the week one starter.
Maybe not according to Kubiak
Cousins has to start at least a few games. He definitely knows the score this time around when it comes to picking the first round QB, but I doubt that he signs this contract as the established backup with no opportunity to start the season at all.
20 million for a bridge he’s throwing the rock fs
Well he won’t be blindsided by the qb pick this time.
Wow, that proved me wrong quickly! 🤣
Why wouldn’t they have signed Flacco? A much better option to start the season and Flacco really wanted to start somewhere before he gave up and signed with the Bengals.
Cousins and Kubiak are very familiar with each other so this serves a dual purpose.
You have a guy starting that knows the system, while helping the newly drafted franchise QB digest the system.
I love this move.
They tried I have read but he preferred the Bungles. I’m happier with Cousins honestly.
They attempted to sign Flacco and he chose to stay put.
I assume their contracts + familiarity would figure into play…
Cousins is not only familiar with Kubiak’ system already, but he will also provide that veteran season-opener role on a league min contract $$… Flacco, on the other hand, would not only have to build a relationship with Kubiak (1st yr HC) and get familiar with Kubiak’s offense, but also do it on a much larger salary; veteran QB 1-yr deal in the 8-10mil range, right?.. I’m assuming Raider’s offer to Flacco was somewhat low and closer to the number the Raiders knew they could get Cousins, and so Flacco prob sacrificed that role in a crappy organization and went with the crappy organization he’s comfortable and familiar, playing in a division he’s mostly played his whole career
… and not trying to throw shade. I root for a crappy organization too
Even if Kirk is a bit washed. It is still the best QB that Bowers has had throwing him the ball, and we have seen what Bowers can do with less.
Guess everybody forgot Cousins gets irked easily if you draft a QB in the first round
@dropped. He got irked, because they signed him to a big deal, and traded up to get one. The Falcons told him something different than the plan otherwise he probably would’ve went somewhere else
I was irked and I’m not a Falcon fan. You make a win-now move with Cousins, then draft a QB with your #1?
Falcons didn’t trade up to draft Penix.
Interesting move but probably a solid choice for all parties involved.
As was mentioned by somebody else, I don’t trust the Raiders organization but I do trust that a guy like Kubiak knows what he’s doing.
And somehow the Raiders will fumble the number one pick with a RG or something 😂
Anyone shocked by the 5 years, $172 million ? Obviously, Cousins will only be in Las Vegas for 1 or 2 years (as only 1 year is guaranteed), but the cost and length amaze me for a 37-year old QB.
Where are you getting 5 and 172? That’s nowhere near what he’ll get. The Raiders are paying him 10 an whatever he gets from the Raiders won’t be much or guaranteed IMO. In the NFL the only number that matters is the guarantee. The rest is just window dressing.
For the most part it’s just very phony numbers. It’s basically just a 1 year 11 million contract. You’ll see 1 yr 20 million floating around, but atl is covering 9 of that
Sorry I meant he’s getting 10 from the Falcons. You’re right.
Besides no team in their right mind would bring in a FA QB at 5 and 172 when it’s all but announced pick 1-1 is going to be a QB. Unless said team is stupid enough to hire Ryan Pace as an executive for said team. They should then be checked in for an instant Lobotomy.
Now if I were Kirk, I couldn’t resist having a bit of fun with Davis and Brady by saying “If you need me… I’ll be in Baltimore getting a physical” 🙂
I think the options that could make it five years & $172 million is to cover the team based on what happened the last time the team picked a quarterback with the first overall pick. It’s highly unlikely he’s the next JaMarcus Russell, but based on their track record with first round quarterbacks (Marc Wilson & Todd Marinovich are the other two), they’d better be safe than sorry.
Tom Brady certainly knows the right way to develop a rookie QB 👏 Cousins will run the offense while Mendoza sits and develops…..