Kirk Cousins’ Raiders deal comes with hidden catch that could shift things
Weeks ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders added a veteran quarterback to the mix by agreeing to a contract with former Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins.
The 37-year-old is set to make $20 million guaranteed this upcoming season, while the deal includes a club option for two years at $80 million and could be worth up to $172 million over five years.
Additionally, the deal marks the 11th straight season that he has had a fully guaranteed salary. The move comes less than a month after Cousins was released by the Atlanta Falcons, who parted ways with him two years into his four-year, $180 million contract.
He will make $8.7 million in 2026 from the Falcons, while the Raiders will pay an additional $1.3 million, as well as a fully guaranteed $10 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2027 new league year.
Cousins brings a steady veteran presence to the Raiders’ quarterback room that they have lacked for several seasons. The only other quarterback on the Las Vegas roster was Aidan O’Connell since the team traded Geno Smith to the New York Jets last month.
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Cousins is now reunited with Raiders’ head coach Klint Kubiak, with whom they previously spent three seasons together with the Minnesota Vikings (2019-21) when he was the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.
Las Vegas is still expected to select Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in this year’s draft. The addition of Cousins provides stability to the quarterback room and likely room for Mendoza to develop into the team’s franchise cornerstone.
