HENDERSON, Nev. — Kirk Cousins is nicely conscious of the state of affairs he is strolling into with the Las Vegas Raiders.
In contrast to in Atlanta, when he felt misled by the Falcons after they drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in 2024 regardless of signing him to a long-term deal, he joined the Raiders realizing that they’re anticipated to draft Fernando Mendoza with the primary general decide and being a starter is not assured.
Cousins absolutely embraces this actuality and defined to move coach Klint Kubiak that “the very best participant must play.”
“If that is not me, I do not wish to be on the market,” Cousins mentioned Wednesday. “I do not suppose that is the very best factor for the workforce. If I’m the most suitable choice, then I imagine it is essential that these guys are on the market.
“… However I am excited to get the prospect to steer, assist affect within the locker room, do my half and most significantly, assist our workforce win.”
Cousins, 37, was current in the course of the first day of the Raiders’ offseason exercise program Tuesday, which so occurred to be the day Mendoza was within the constructing for his first and solely top-30 go to. Cousins had an opportunity to satisfy Mendoza and mentioned it will be a privilege to play with him.
Cousins added that he has watched Mendoza from a distance and believes the Heisman Trophy winner has a pure really feel for the place.
“At his stage, he is a lot forward of me,” Cousins mentioned.
Though Mendoza ended his school profession on a excessive notice, throwing 41 touchdowns and main the Indiana Hoosiers to a nationwide championship, Kubiak believes {that a} younger quarterback ought to study behind a veteran as an alternative of being named a starter immediately.
That is the explanation Las Vegas signed Cousins lower than a month after the four-time Professional Bowler was launched by the Falcons, who parted methods with the quarterback two years after signing him to a four-year, $180 million contract.
Cousins will probably be paid $20 million in assured cash in 2026, a supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It’s going to mark the eleventh consecutive season that Cousins’ contract will probably be absolutely assured. The deal additionally features a membership possibility for 2 years at $80 million and may very well be value as much as $172 million over 5 years, the supply instructed Schefter, though solely the $20 million this 12 months is absolutely assured.
The Falcons can pay Cousins $8.7 million in 2026, whereas the Raiders can pay one other $1.3 million, based on Schefter. Las Vegas additionally agreed to pay Cousins a totally assured $10 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2027 new league 12 months. He joins a quarterbacks room that consists of Aidan O’Connell and, finally, Mendoza.
Cousins is thrilled concerning the alternative to reunite with Kubiak, whom he performed for with the Minnesota Vikings for 3 seasons. Cousins mentioned enjoying in Kubiak’s system made a ton of sense for him.
“I feel extremely of his system, his workers, [offensive line coach] Rick Dennison, [offensive coordinator] Andrew Janocko, [and] the best way they marry the run and go,” he mentioned.
Cousins assumed rejoining Kubiak can be a clean transition. However after going via installs, Cousins realized he has loads of catching as much as do.
“I am asking [Janocko], ‘What does that phrase imply? What does this phrase imply?’ Like, I have to study this like I am a rookie, as a result of that is all new to me,” Cousins mentioned. “…That is what good coaches do. They evolve. That is the best way Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell [were]. It all the time modified and developed, and it is the identical factor that is occurred right here.”
Cousins additionally expressed his pleasure to be working with minority proprietor Tom Brady, who was additionally on the facility on Tuesday for the offseason program and Mendoza’s go to. Cousins mentioned accessing somebody like Brady generally is a aggressive benefit.
“Not a number of possession teams would have somebody with that sort of on-field expertise that may speak ball with you on the degree that he can,” Cousins mentioned.
Cousins did not wish to make any loud proclamations throughout his first week with the Raiders. He believes his finest soccer is forward of him, however he would relatively show it on the sphere.
Cousins needs to complete his profession sturdy. He thinks he has a chance to take action in Las Vegas.
“[I] wish to benefit from it,” he mentioned.
