Kirk Cousins Sends Strong Message About Raiders QB Job
Former Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins knows exactly what the situation he’s stepping into with the Las Vegas Raiders is.
Cousins signed with the Raiders with the awareness that the organization is expected to take Indiana standout quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in this year’s draft later this month.
During his introductory press conference, Cousins voiced that he doesn’t want the Raiders to play him if he hasn’t proved that he’s the best quarterback on the roster.
“If that’s not me, I don’t want to be out there,” Cousins said Wednesday via ESPN. “I don’t think that’s the best thing for the team. If I am the best option, then I believe it’s important that those guys are out there.
“… But I’m excited to get the chance to lead, help influence in the locker room, do my part and most importantly, help our team win.”
Cousins’ remarks shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, given the situation he’s coming out of with the Atlanta Falcons. He had signed a lucrative contract in free agency with the Falcons months after tearing his Achilles tendon.
Shortly after he inked the deal with Atlanta, the team selected Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. It immediately put Cousins in direct competition with Penix Jr. for the starting job.
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He initially won the position, but his struggles led to him being benched in favor of the Washington product.
Cousins is in another situation where he isn’t viewed as the long-term future, which could be his final shot to prove he’s still an NFL starting-caliber quarterback.
