Joe Flacco
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 28: Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers looks on during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
NFL insider Dianna Russini reported back on March 6th that the Las Vegas Raiders are exploring veteran quarterback options. “The Las Vegas Raiders are exploring veteran quarterback options on the free agent and trade market, per sources. That includes the possibility of trading for a current starting QB.” A lot of analysts and fans are connecting Kirk Cousins as a potential veteran QB to backup projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, and now, according to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, Super Bowl XLVII winner Joe Flacco could be another potential option for the Raiders.
Raiders Linked to Joe Flacco to Back Up Fernando Mendoza
Fowler noted that there’s interest in Las Vegas signing Flacco.
“Speaking of Vegas, I’m told that that is an option for him, that they would have interest in potentially bringing him along as a backup/bridge if Fernando Mendoza needs to sit a little bit, assuming they draft him, which they will.”
Flacco would be an intriguing option for Las Vegas. He’s 41 years old, yet he looked better than some starting quarterbacks around the NFL last season, throwing for 1,664 yards with 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions in nine games with the Cincinnati Bengals.
He could be the perfect veteran QB to not only mentor Mendoza but also provide solid quarterback play should the Raiders decide to keep Mendoza on the bench for the start of the season.
Fowler Talks Kirk Cousins, Raiders
Kirk Cousins
GettyKirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings and NFC looks to throw under pressure from Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders.
As previously mentioned, there’s a belief that Cousins could also be an option for Las Vegas, and Fowler provided some more insight on that.
“Then you got Kirk Cousins. This is a little bit different for him in the past as a free agent. He used to be the bell of the ball. Right now he’s more wait and see mode. You know, he could maybe go to a place where there’s already a starter, but they’re injured like Indianapolis with Daniel Jones. Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes is a good opportunity if he’s not ready coming off that ACL in Week 1.”
It’s unclear whether Cousins would be interested in signing with the Raiders, but according to The Athletic, Las Vegas is expected to show interest in signing him.
“The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to show interest in Cousins, 37, as they look for a veteran quarterback to help develop presumptive No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, league sources tell The Athletic.
Whatever the case, the 14-year veteran quarterback is free to see what interest remains in his services across the league. Cousins, who is 19th in NFL history in regular-season passing yards (44,700) and 15th in passing touchdowns (298), has started 30 games the last three seasons while battling injuries and ineffectiveness. He was benched in favor of then-rookie Michael Penix Jr. in Atlanta in Week 15 of the 2024 season, but Cousins reclaimed the starting job with seven weeks remaining in the 2025 season after Penix suffered a season-ending knee injury.”
Spytek talked about the importance of having a veteran quarterback who can start, rather than throwing a rookie QB into the fire, noting, “I think you want to limit the amount of pressure you have on that guy from the start. If you have a young quarterback, I’m not necessarily in favor of running him out there right away. So, (it’s important to have) another quality player that can play the quarterback position, if you have a young quarterback.”
Whether that’s Joe Flacco, Kirk Cousins, or some other name that hasn’t been mentioned, all signs point to the Raiders bringing in a proven veteran.