Kirk Cousins is set to join the Las Vegas Raiders, according to his agent. Details of the contract are still under wraps. At 37 years old, he’ll be stepping into a team that’s expected to draft the young quarterback Fernando Mendoza with their first pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
This move comes after Cousins was released by the Atlanta Falcons. He hadn’t been with the team long; they signed him two years ago to a hefty four-year, $180 million deal. In Atlanta, Cousins had a mix of ups and downs. The Falcons selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. shortly after his signing, which surprised him.
Last season, Cousins was recovering from a torn Achilles. He started strong, helping the Falcons to a 6-3 record. However, an arm injury caused setbacks, leading to a rough patch of five games marked by nine interceptions before the Falcons decided to bench him.
Although Cousins returned healthy in 2025, the Falcons had already committed to Penix as their starting quarterback. Sadly, injuries struck again when Penix tore his ACL in Week 11, giving Cousins another shot to lead. He closed the season with a four-game winning streak, finishing that year with 1,721 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Throughout his 14 seasons in the NFL, Cousins has thrown for almost 45,000 yards. He has accumulated 298 touchdowns and 131 interceptions, earning his spot in NFL history.
A big factor in this move is the relationship between Cousins and Raiders’ new coach Klint Kubiak. Kubiak had previously worked with Cousins during their time with the Minnesota Vikings, where they built a solid rapport.
As the NFL evolves, many are keen to see how veteran players like Cousins adapt to newer, younger talent. Teams like the Raiders face the challenge of balancing experience with the potential of fresh recruits.
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