All articles tagged with #kirk cousins
ESPN’s Adam Schefter says the Raiders will likely start Kirk Cousins for much of the season and delay Fernando Mendoza’s debut to December, citing a challenging four-road-game November; Mendoza’s first snaps could come around December 13 vs. the Chargers, depending on preseason performance and the offense’s development.
Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza's inquisitive approach has Raiders offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko re-evaluating the offense, with the staff weighing potential changes and whether Mendoza or Kirk Cousins will start Week 1 against the Dolphins.
Raiders.com columnist Paul Gutierrez notes Las Vegas won’t have any primetime or international games in 2026 (a first since 2010), faces a road-heavy start with a notably late Week 13 bye, and will play a Bay Area game in Week 9 rather than Mexico City. The piece highlights a brutal slate from NFC West and AFC West opponents, the ongoing Mendoza/Cousins quarterback chatter, and a bold projection that the Raiders will at least match their 2025 three wins before the bye, with additional wins possible late in the season.
The reported five-year, $172 million deal is actually structured as a one-year, fully guaranteed $20 million for 2026 (Raiders pay $11.3M, Falcons offset $8.7M). Key terms: 2026 base $1.3M guaranteed; 2027 offseason roster bonus $10M guaranteed; 2027 base $1.345M (guaranteed by day five); 2028 base $78.655M (guaranteed later); 2029 base $40M; 2030 base $40M. If cut before the 2027 day-five window, $11.3M is guaranteed for one season. If Raiders keep him beyond 2026, total could reach about $100M over three years, though that scenario is unlikely and would mean ~$30M per year.
With Fernando Mendoza widely projected as the Raiders’ No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Las Vegas plans to pair him with Kirk Cousins for development while keeping the door open for a early- or mid-year starter depending on camp merit. GM John Spytek says the “best man will play,” but Mendoza’s arrival doesn’t preclude waiting a bit. The club also aims to use its nine additional picks to shore up the roster at safety, offensive line, and receiver and could move around the board to optimize value.
Raiders GM John Spytek and assistant GM Brian Stark teased a flexible, merit-based approach to the No. 1 pick, acknowledging trade interest and saying the best player will play, while signaling Kirk Cousins could be part of the plan and considering a rookie QB learning behind him; the pre-draft chatter even indulges a running joke about a fictional contender named 'Mernando Mendoza' amid the draft speculation.
Las Vegas Raiders GM John Spytek says the Week 1 quarterback starter will be decided by merit among Fernando Mendoza, Kirk Cousins, and Aidan O’Connell; Mendoza isn’t guaranteed the job and could wait until September, with Cousins available if Mendoza isn’t ready; the team aims to avoid rushing a rookie and will play the best man for the job.
The Raiders signed Kirk Cousins as a spot starter for Fernando Mendoza, and Maxx Crosby shared a positive first impression on his podcast, saying Cousins is awesome and will help the team. Cousins, who threw for eight TDs and four INTs with a 5-3 record last year for the Falcons, is the presumed starter this fall. The article notes a near trade that would have sent Crosby to Baltimore for two first-round picks, but Crosby remains with the Raiders as they push for an improved 2026 season.
Rich Gannon views Kirk Cousins’ signing as a clear Raiders blueprint: bring in a proven quarterback to spark real competition, consider drafting a rookie such as Fernando Mendoza, and let spring/summer reps determine Week 1 duties under Klint Kubiak, with no formal starter timetable yet.
Kirk Cousins joins the Las Vegas Raiders on a one-year, $20 million deal (with $8.3 million paid by the Falcons) and positions himself to either start or mentor rookie Fernando Mendoza as the franchise rebuilds. After consulting coach Klint Kubiak and receiving guidance from Tom Brady, Cousins embraced Vegas’ culture and the chance to help Mendoza develop, stressing that winning with the right people matters most and that he’ll play if he’s the best option for the team.
Kirk Cousins says the best player should start and has offered to mentor Fernando Mendoza, signaling Mendoza could be the Raiders’ future franchise QB if he outperforms in camp and earns the job.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins signs with the Las Vegas Raiders, reuniting with coach Klint Kubiak and joining a young, well-resourced roster. He cites the Raiders’ facilities, ownership/management commitment, and Las Vegas environment as key reasons for the move, and says his aim is to lead and finish strong in Year 15 while helping Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty and Tyler Linderbaum accelerate the franchise’s progress.
At the NFL Annual League Meeting, Rams coach Sean McVay said the team is weighing Kirk Cousins as a backup for Matthew Stafford and has discussed Jimmy Garoppolo as well, while revealing they considered trading Davante Adams this offseason but decided against it, signaling ongoing aggressive moves for a Super Bowl run.
McVay said Kirk Cousins would be appealing as the Rams’ backup if free-agent pursuit of Jimmy Garoppolo doesn’t pan out, with Garoppolo still in consideration, Matthew Stafford ahead and Stetson Bennett in the QB room as the team contemplates adding another quarterback.
Breer shows a quiet but pivotal phase of NFL free agency: Kyler Murray plans to take a minimum deal and may land with Minnesota or Indianapolis; Kirk Cousins wants more than the minimum and could fit with Minnesota or Indy as teams navigate the market. Tua Tagovailoa joined the Falcons for the veteran minimum while Miami pays the remaining guarantees; Geno Smith was traded to the Jets, moving market dynamics. Jacksonville and Seattle are managing cap space and draft capital for future flexibility, with several notable contracts (Vera-Tucker’s per-game bonuses, Pacheco’s Lions fit) illustrating how teams are approaching deals as Wednesday’s free-agent window opens.