Kirk Cousins’ tenure as a starting quarterback in the NFL continues. Reports indicate the 37-year-old secured an agreement with the Las Vegas Raiders, confirmed by his representative on Thursday.
This acquisition positions Cousins to potentially begin the upcoming season as the team’s primary signal-caller, while the organization grooms Fernando Mendoza, the anticipated top overall draft selection, for a future leadership role.
Cousins personally validated this development through a concise three-word update shared on X:
The phrase “The Autumn Wind” originates from a poem customized for the Raiders in 1974, authored by Steve Sabol, a co-founder of NFL Films.
Sources indicate Cousins is set to finalize a one-year contract with the Raiders, fully guaranteed for $20 million, as reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN. While the agreement possesses greater intricacies, its fundamental nature equates to a single-year commitment.
This transfer brings Cousins back together with the Raiders’ new head coach, Klint Kubiak, who previously served as Cousins’ quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator during their shared time with the Minnesota Vikings. Cousins was reportedly courted by several other franchises, such as the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams, but ultimately chose to team up with Kubiak in Las Vegas, according to The Athletic.
This announcement follows Mendoza’s pro day, just yesterday, with Mendoza being the player the Raiders are projected to pick first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Cousins’ signing probably doesn’t reflect the Raiders’ assessment of Mendoza’s pro day showing, given Kubiak’s stated preference against immediately deploying a rookie as a starter, as noted by NFL.com.
“In a perfect scenario, you wouldn’t want a player to commence starting duties on the first day,” Kubiak commented on Tuesday. “The preference is for them to gain experience by observing someone else. That’s the ideal situation. However, circumstances don’t always unfold that way. Occasionally, they must play from the outset, and it becomes our coaching responsibility to prepare them. I believe it benefits the athlete to be able to learn from an experienced veteran and observe their leadership.”
This viewpoint suggests it’s probable Cousins will commence the 2026 NFL season as the Raiders’ primary quarterback. This status might evolve based on the performances of both athletes during training camp and the preseason, but for the moment, Cousins appears to hold an advantage over Mendoza.
Cousins began the previous season serving as a reserve for the Atlanta Falcons, backing up Michael Penix Jr. However, a Penix injury created an opportunity for Cousins to return to a starting position during the latter part of the season. Across 10 appearances, with eight starts, Cousins achieved 10 passing touchdowns versus five interceptions.
Following a review of his choices throughout the offseason period, Cousins eventually finalized his commitment with the Raiders. This transfer potentially offers him a final opportunity to establish his capability as a premier NFL quarterback, although it appears improbable he will maintain that position for an extended duration, given Mendoza’s anticipated emergence.
