Raiders land Kirk Cousins
The Las Vegas Raiders signed veteran QB Kirk Cousins in a move that looks more like a short-term bridge and mentorship play than a long-term franchise bet — the deal includes $20 million guaranteed. ( ) Cousins is 37 and arrives after a 12‑10 record as Atlanta’s starter over the past two seasons, and the club says he’ll mentor rookie Fernando Mendoza while helping steady the QB room. (nytimes.com)
The Raiders announced the agreement with quarterback Kirk Cousins on April 2; the signing was confirmed by Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney. (apnews.com) Cousins was released by the Atlanta Falcons less than a month before the deal, and the contract guarantees him $20 million for the 2026 season while also including extra years and figures that raise the publicized total value. (espn.com) Those extra pieces include a team option for two additional seasons worth roughly $80 million if the club exercises it, and the contract contains two “void” years that exist to spread the accounting impact across seasons for the NFL salary cap; “fully guaranteed” means the $20 million this year is payable to Cousins even if he is released. (espn.com) (nfl.com) The move reunites Cousins with Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, who worked with him in Minnesota, and comes as Las Vegas prepares to bring in Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick — Kubiak has publicly said he prefers a young quarterback to sit and learn behind a veteran. (nfl.com) (espn.com)
