The Las Vegas Raiders are bringing in an experienced presence under center, agreeing to a one-year deal with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. The contract is valued at $20 million and is fully guaranteed, with a potential two-year extension option worth up to $80 million.
Cousins, 37, joins the Raiders after being released by the Atlanta Falcons earlier this offseason. Atlanta will still cover $8.7 million of his salary, while Las Vegas will pay a $1.3 million base along with a $10 million roster bonus due next year.
The move comes as the Raiders prepare for the future, with expectations that they will select quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Cousins is likely to serve as both a mentor and a possible early-season starter, depending on how quickly the rookie is ready to take over.
Head coach Klint Kubiak, who previously worked with Cousins during their time with the Minnesota Vikings, has emphasized the value of patience with young quarterbacks. “Ideally, you don’t want him to start from Day 1,” Kubiak said. “You’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody. That’s in a perfect world. It doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes they have to play from Day 1, and it’s our job as coaches to get them ready to go. I think it does help the player if they can sit behind a mature adult and watch how they run the show.”
Cousins fits that role well. A four-time Pro Bowler with 14 years of NFL experience, he has appeared in 174 games, completing 66.7% of his passes for 44,700 yards, 298 touchdowns, and 131 interceptions. He began his career as a backup to Robert Griffin III before becoming a full-time starter, later spending six seasons with the Vikings.
His recent stint in Atlanta included ups and downs. After signing a massive contract in 2024, Cousins struggled at times and was briefly benched in favor of Michael Penix Jr.. He returned to the starting lineup due to injury and, in 2025, posted a 61.7% completion rate with 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions across 10 appearances.
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