Raiders Sign QB Kirk Cousins
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.
Giants Sign OL Lucas Patrick
Lucas Patrick has lined up his next NFL gig shortly before the draft. The veteran offensive lineman has agreed to a deal with the Giants, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. The move is now official, per a team announcement.
This will be a one-year pact, Wilson adds to no surprise. Adding along the offensive line was named as a goal by Giants general manager Joe Schoen during last week’s league meeting. Patrick will now be in place in time for the start of New York’s offseason program, which will begin tomorrow.
The nine-year veteran has made 113 appearances during the regular season over the course of his career; that includes 65 starts. Patrick spent his first five NFL seasons with Green Bay. He followed that with a two-year run in Chicago and then single campaigns with New Orleans and Cincinnati. The 32-year-old’s lone start in 2025 came at center, a familiar position. Patrick also has extensive experience at both guard spots, however.
The Giants are in position to return four of their five O-line starters from last season. Right guard Greg Van Roten remains unsigned at this point, and Patrick could serve as a replacement. The team has been open to a new deal with Van Roten, who operated as New York’s RG for each of the past two years, but it will be interesting to see if that remains the case with another veteran now in the fold. Finances are tight with respect to any moves the Giants make at this time.
New York entered Monday near the bottom of the league in terms of cap space, and affording the team’s incoming draft class will require further financial commitments. This Patrick contract will not alter the Giants’ situation to a large degree, though, as his past two deals were respectively worth $1.38MM and $2.1MM. A similar low-cost move can be expected this time around.
Unclear If James Pearce Jr. Will Report To Falcons’ Offseason Program
Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. is the subject of three felony charges. As such, his immediate and long-term futures remain unclear at this point.
Pearce has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person stemming from an incident which led to an arrest in early February. Pearce has been the subject of numerous domestic violence allegations from ex-girlfriend and WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Jackson filed a petition for a protective order, and it was granted; a permanent injunction hearing is scheduled for April 21.
As detailed by Josh Kendall of The Athletic, a docket sounding is set for April 23. That will mark the final opportunity for a plea agreement to be reached in this case. If that does not take place, Pearce – who also faces a charge of aggravated stalking which was reduced to a misdemeanor – will see his case proceed to trial. One is currently scheduled to begin on May 4.
Well before that point, the Falcons will start their offseason program. As one of the teams with a new head coach in place, Atlanta’s spring work will begin tomorrow. It remains to be seen, per Kendall, if Pearce will report to the team. The 22-year-old recorded 10.5 sacks in 2025 and was a finalist for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, but the allegations he faces have led to uncertainty regarding his situation. To little surprise, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports an absence is expected in this case.
Shortly after Pearce’s arrest, the NFL began reviewing the matter. That is still the case at this point, although a league representative declined to confirm to Kendall if a formal investigation has been opened yet. The NFL’s personal conduct policy carries a baseline suspension of six games for first-time offenses of domestic violence, with the potential for that figure to be raised or lowered based on mitigating or aggravating factors. The league often waits until a criminal proceeding takes its course before handing down any potential discipline; convictions are not required for a fine and/or suspension to be issued.
Atlanta’s other 2025 first-round pick, Jalon Walker, enjoyed a strong rookie season of his own and can be expected to remain a mainstay in the pass rush department for years to come. The same may not be true of Pearce, whose status will be worth monitoring closely over the coming days as well as the course of the offseason.
Bengals Unlikely To Make LB Addition?
The Bengals made a pair of notable draft investments at the linebacker spot during last year’s draft. Both Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter played key defensive roles as rookies, and they will be expected to do so again in 2026.
Cincinnati’s defense struggled during the 2025 season under new DC Al Golden, to say the least. The inconsistent play of both linebackers in particular was a talking point as the unit finished 30th in points allowed and 31st in total defense. Knight was a mainstay throughout the campaign, while Barrett took on a starting role in Week 6 and continued in that capacity the rest of the way.
The Bengals have been quiet on the linebacker front so far in free agency. Special teams contributors Shaka Heyward and Joe Giles-Harris have been retained, but no outside additions have been made. Cincinnati has eight selections in the upcoming draft, so the team could certainly bring in a rookie once again. Head coach Zac Taylor is open to taking that route, although in any event the Knight-Carter tandem is in position to remain intact for 2026.
“I don’t think that’d be harmful at all,” Taylor said (via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic) when asked about adding another rookie at the LB spot. “I think that those guys are wired the right way. That’s why we added them into the room. That’s why we threw him in the fire so early, because we knew it wasn’t going to break them… I could see the long-term value how this is going to play out for us. And so that’s still the vision we have for those guys.”
Taylor expressed optimism that Knight and Carter – both of whom topped 100 tackles as rookies – will be able to take a step forward during the second year in the NFL, citing their play during the second half of last season. He noted linebacker moves were discussed early in free agency, but other defensive priorities were of course present as well. The team sought multiple edge rush signings and moved quickly in adding defensive tackle Jonathan Allen shortly after his Vikings release. Signings in the secondary, including a deal for safety Kyle Dugger, have since followed.
With over $20MM in cap space, the Bengals could certainly afford a free agent deal at the linebacker position. Most veterans still on the market will no doubt wait until after the draft to sign, though, so it may not be for a few more weeks that Cincinnati’s depth chart sees any movement.
Dolphins Expected To Trade Down In Draft; Team Hosts Zion Young
The Dolphins currently own 11 selections in the upcoming draft. The Jaylen Waddle trade yielded extra capital in 2026, but new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan may make more moves aimed at acquiring future picks.
Miami is expected by many around the league to trade down once or twice during the draft, SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora writes. With the Dolphins in the beginning of a full-blown rebuild, it would certainly come as no surprise if they looked to move down the board with an eye on picking up extra selections late in 2026 or during the middle rounds of next year’s draft. It will be interesting to see how Sullivan operates during his first draft at the helm of a team.
The top of the 2026 draft class is not held in particularly high regard, especially compared to the projected prospects in next year’s draft. That could lead to a tepid market with with respect to teams trading up during the late stages of the first round. As such, Miami could end up staying put at No. 11 as well as No. 30, the high pick acquired from Denver in the Waddle swap. The Dolphins also have one selection in the second round as well as four third-rounders, however, so movement on Day 2 will be something to watch for.
Pre-draft visits continue around the league, and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes the Dolphins recently hosted Zion Young at their facility. The Missouri product is one of several edge rushers projected to come off the board late in the first round or some time in the second. Young set a new career high with 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss in 2025, his second season with the Tigers. He faces questions about his athletic upside, but Young’s length and strong play against the run will lead to high expectations upon arrival in the NFL.
With the Dolphins having dealt Jaelan Phillips at the 2025 trade deadline and released Bradley Chubb earlier this offseason, adding in the pass rush department is an obvious goal entering the draft. Young and other EDGE prospects will receive a look over the coming days as Sullivan evaluates his options for later this month.
5 Key Stories: 3/29/26 – 4/5/26
With the annual league meeting now in the books, attention around the NFL will increasingly turn to the upcoming draft. That will bring about several key storylines, but the past few days have been busy as well. Here is a quick recap of the past week’s top stories:
- Walker Lands Jaguars Extension: Talks between Travon Walker and the Jaguars proved to be successful. Team and player agreed to a four-year, $110MM deal which will keep the former No. 1 pick in place through 2030. Walker secured $77MM in total guarantees along with $50MM fully locked in at signing. The 25-year-old saw his sack total drop to 3.5 in 2025 after two straight double-digit campaigns, but he will be counted on as a mainstay along the defensive front for years to come. This deal comes two years after Jacksonville’s previous regime inked Josh Hines-Allen to a big-ticket deal of his own. The Jags are also in negotiations with receiver Parker Washington and tight end Brenton Strange, so it will be interesting to see if agreements can be reached with them prior to the start of the 2026 season.
- Cousins Joins Raiders: Following his Falcons release, Kirk Cousins drew interest from a number of teams. The free agent quarterback elected to join the Raiders, though, setting him up for a stint atop the depth chart early next season. Vegas is still universally expected to draft Fernando Mendoza first overall, and the Heisman winner will of course be viewed as the team’s quarterback of the future. Cousins, 38 in August, nevertheless managed to add further to his impressive total in terms of guaranteed money with this agreement. He will collect $10MM in 2026 (much of which will be Atlanta’s responsibility) while another $10MM is set to be paid out early next offseason as a roster bonus. Cousins’ future past that point is unclear, but he has his next NFL gig lined up.
- Chiefs’ Rice Will Not Be Suspended: Rashee Rice is the subject of a civil lawsuit alleging domestic violence, something which prompted an NFL investigation. The Chiefs wideout will not be subject to a suspension, however, with the league’s probe concluding that the personal conduct policy was not violated in this case. Rice opened the 2025 season with a six-game suspension for his role in a hit-and-run incident, but the coming campaign will begin under different circumstances. The former second-rounder is entering the final year of his rookie contract; a strong showing would provide Kansas City’s offense with a needed playmaker while also increasing his chances of remaining in the fold beyond 2026.
- Rams’ Nacua Staying At Rehab Center: It was recently learned that Rams wideout Puka Nacua checked himself into a rehab facility in Malibu, California in March. He remains there at this time, with a focus on “personal growth” being the target. Nacua, 24, has been involved in multiple off-field matters early in his NFL career, including accusations made by a woman regarding an alleged incident on New Year’s Eve in 2025. Nacua is now the subject of a lawsuit filed by the alleged victim, with a hearing scheduled for next week. Nacua has been one of the NFL’s top receivers since arriving in Los Angeles three years ago, but no extension is imminent in his case as he approaches the final year of his rookie contract.
- Bears Already Planning Williams Extension: As a 2024 draftee, Caleb Williams will not be eligible for an extension until next offseason at the earliest. The Bears will nevertheless devote time this summer to exploring the terms of a new deal for their franchise quarterback. Williams enjoyed a strong first year playing under Ben Johnson in 2025, helping lead Chicago to the divisional round of the playoffs. Especially if the former No. 1 pick delivers a similar showing this year, a monster commitment will likely be in store. In any case, Williams is likely to have his fifth-year option exercised next spring, something which would keep him under team control through 2028.
Dolphins Likely To Hold Competition At Multiple OL Spots
New Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has been busy positioning the team for the opening stages of a long-term rebuild. That has included the departure of several veterans, although center Aaron Brewer is still in the fold.
Brewer earned second-team All-Pro honors for his play in 2025, the second year of his Miami tenure. An extension is in the team’s plans in Brewer’s case, something which is only true of a small number of other incumbent players. Left tackle Patrick Paul is coming off his first full season as a starter, and the 2024 second-round pick can be expected to remain a mainstay on the blindside.
The Dolphins’ other three offensive line spots are much less certain, however. Jonah Savaiinaea struggled during his rookie season, leaving the door open to a replacement in the starting lineup under first-year head coach Jeff Hafley. Free agency brought about the addition of Jamaree Salyer, who is expected to compete for the starting right guard gig. Meanwhile, veteran right tackle Austin Jackson is still in the fold, although his health has long been a talking point. Jackson, a pending 2027 free agent, has only totaled 14 appearances across the past two seasons.
“Savaiinaea can be the first one to tell you, he’s got to be more consistent,” Sullivan said (via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques). “And on the right side, we have some questions that we’ve got to get answered. [Jackson] is coming back. We’re excited to get him back.. And then we’re going to have a competition at the right guard spot.
“But I like a lot of pieces on the offensive line, the left tackle and the center especially. I think there’s going to be competition elsewhere.”
As one might expect given the team’s massive dead money charges for 2026, Miami is near the bottom of the NFL in terms of cap space. A notable free agent move should not be expected as such, but some of the Dolphins’ 11 draft picks could of course be devoted to adding up front. That would set up one or more training camp competitions as Miami seeks needed improvement on offense for 2026.
Packers To Make RB Addition
Josh Jacobs has spent the past two seasons as the Packers’ top running back. A heavy workload can once again be expected for 2026, but it remains to be seen how the rest of the team’s backfield will take shape.
Green Bay has MarShawn Lloyd on the books, but injuries have proven to be a major issue in his case. The 2024 third-rounder was limited to just one game during his rookie season, and he was out of the lineup this past year. Lloyd will look to carve out a role during training camp, with the same being true of Pierre Strong – who inked a futures deal in January – as well as special teams regular Chris Brooks.
“I like our group,” Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said at the recent league meeting (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic). “We’re certainly gonna add competition to that room. But I like — whether it’s MarShawn as we get him healthy and get him going, [and] Pierre Strong’s there. There’s guys we really like, but I’m sure there will be more competition to come.”
Jacobs is owed $11.6MM for 2026, the third season of his four-year free agent pact. The former Raider earned his third career Pro Bowl nod in 2024 as he enjoyed a strong debut season in Green Bay. 2025 saw Jacobs’ efficiency and overall production take a step back, although he remained a strong red zone presence with 13 rushing touchdowns. RB1 duties can be expected moving forward, but adding a consistent backup would no doubt help the 28-year-old in particular and Green Bay’s offense in general.
A number of veteran backs such as Najee Harris, Joe Mixon, Austin Ekeler and Antonio Gibson are unsigned at this point. That will likely remain the case until after the upcoming draft, but in any event a low-cost deal would likely be feasible for most or all of those options. The Packers have roughly $22MM in cap space at the moment, so affording a depth addition should not be a challenge.
A rookie draft selection will of course receive consideration as well. Green Bay currently does not have a first-round pick thanks to the Micah Parsons trade, but the team still has seven overall selections. The 2026 RB class is not held in high regard beyond Jeremiyah Love, who will be long gone by the time the Packers are on the clock for the first time. Whether through free agency or the draft, though, it would come as no surprise if Green Bay were to make at least one backfield move.
Patriots Could Pursue Maxx Crosby Trade
Since the Raiders-Ravens Maxx Crosby trade fell through, expectations have turned to Crosby remaining in Las Vegas. Interest from other suitors could of course emerge, however.
One team to watch in that regard could be the Patriots. New England is open to making notable trades deep into the 2026 offseason, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe confirms. One such move could be an A.J. Brown trade, something a majority of PFR’s readers believe will indeed take place after June 1.
The Patriots remain the most popular presumed landing spot for Brown in the event he is dealt from the Eagles. Regardless of what happens on that front, Volin points to Crosby as a potential New England trade target. A trade for two first-round picks was agreed to with Baltimore before a failed physical nixed the deal.
Concerns were raised about the long-term health outlook of his surgically repaired knee, something which will no doubt lower the value of any trade worked out in the future. Especially given the discounted price of a future Crosby acquisition, Volin writes a Patriots pursuit would not come as a surprise. The Patriots came up as a Crosby suitor before the Ravens reached their agreement.
New England managed just 35 sacks during the 2025 season, so upgrading the pass rush represented a clear goal entering the new league year. The team has not been busy through free agency so far, though, and as expected K’Lavon Chaisson departed on the open market. That leaves the edge as an area of need entering the draft for the reigning AFC champions. Acquiring Crosby – a Pro Bowler in each of the past five years, including the one full campaign in which Pats OC Josh McDaniels was Vegas’ head coach – would certainly provide a boost in the pass rush department.
The 28-year-old is under contract through 2029. Crosby is owed $30MM in salary for the upcoming season, and his $29MM in base compensation for 2027 has already vested. A major financial commitment would thus be needed for the Patriots or any other team in addition to the draft capital to swing an agreement with Vegas. The Raiders have issued a stance against further trades in Crosby’s case, but it remains to be seen if that will hold throughout the course of the offseason.
New England is still in a strong position with respect to cap space after entering the new league year with plenty of spending power. Part of the team’s financial planning will obviously be dependent on a Brown trade being finalized later on, but it will be interesting to see if the Patriots also check in regarding a Crosby move.
Goodell: NFL Players Expected To Participate In 2028 Olympics
Last May, owners voted to allow NFL players to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. That has been followed by interest shown on the part of several notable players, leading to the expectation they will indeed be taking part in the Games.
Particulars have yet to worked out regarding NFL participation, but the remaining issues on that front are not likely to prove to be too much of a hurdle. Meanwhile, the success of Team USA in the recent Fanatics Flag Football Classic has led to renewed skepticism about pro football players being the best suited for flag football’s Olympic debut. Nevertheless, commissioner Roger Goodell remains confident NFLers will be taking part.
[RELATED: Robert Griffin III Joins American Flag Football Roster]
“I think we’ll see NFL players in the Olympics,” Goodell said (via Fox Sports’ Eric Williams) during a press conference following the recent league meeting. “They want to play. We just had a player here who wants to compete in the Olympics… I think it will be great for football. I think it will be great for the fans.”
Goodell’s comments come in the wake of an important update regarding the creation of new professional men’s and women’s flag football leagues. TMRW Sports has been selected as the NFL’s partner for launching the leagues, and a notable list of investors has already been generated. Growing flag football has long been a major priority for the NFL, including its push to have that version of the game granted Olympic status. The new pro leagues are set to begin before the Los Angeles Games.
Logistics will no doubt be a talking point regarding NFL participation. The Olympics – and the preparation which will precede it – will take place around the time of training camps around the league. Accommodations will need to be made on that front, and concerns related to injuries and other factors will of course remain in place. Confidence clearly remains high that the goal of NFL participation will be realized, however.