Kirk Cousins
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Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport argued the Las Vegas Raiders are the best fit for former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.
The potential starting opportunities for former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins are quickly dwindling this offseason. But there’s one possible landing spot that continues to surface when pundits discuss Cousins’s free agent candidacy — the Las Vegas Raiders.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport was the latest to connect Cousins to the Raiders on Sunday. Davenport identified Las Vegas as the “best fit” for the veteran quarterback in NFL free agency.
“There’s little question that the Raiders are going to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in April’s draft …
“Drafting Medoza won’t instantly make the Raiders contenders anymore than signing Linderbaum instantly made a bad offensive line a good one,” Davenport wrote. “If Mendoza truly is ready to lead the team from Day 1, Cousins could serve as a veteran mentor.
“If he isn’t, the team can roll out Cousins to begin the season as a veteran stopgap.”
That’s essentially the job Cousins had last year with the Atlanta Falcons. Entering 2025, Cousins was Atlanta’s backup for former No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr.
The veteran, though, started eight games for the Falcons because of Penix injuries. Cousins led Atlanta to a 5-3 record with 10 touchdowns throws and five interceptions.
Over six seasons with the Vikings from 2018-23, Cousins went 50-37-1 while averaging 7.6 yards per pass. He also had 171 touchdown passes and 55 interceptions.
Will the Las Vegas Raiders Pursue Kirk Cousins?
Davenport calling the Raiders the best fit for Cousins came after other national insiders and analysts linked the team and quarterback together.
Before free agency began on March 6, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported the Raiders prefer “not to start” presumed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza right away behind center.
That means, after trading Geno Smith to the New York Jets during the first week of free agency, the Raiders need to add a starting-caliber quarterback.
Five days after her first report, Russini named Cousins a potential Raiders target.
“Expect the Las Vegas Raiders to show interest in Kirk Cousins as they look for a veteran QB addition to help develop presumptive No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza,” wrote Russini.
Another two days later, former NFL general manager and ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum argued in favor of that plan.
“I would sign Kirk Cousins. I think he is the ideal bridge quarterback for Fernando Mendoza,” Tannenbaum said, via Davenport. “We know they got Tyler Linderbaum, but their offensive line gave up more sacks than any team last year.
“Why not go out and get a veteran like Kirk Cousins to stabilize the position? Bring Mendoza along slowly.”
Cousins has posted a .500 record or better in five consecutive seasons. While the veteran quarterback lost his starting job in Atlanta while leading the league with 16 interceptions during 2024, he would likely be one of the top backup quarterbacks in the league wherever he lands next season.
Could Cousins Land Starting Job Elsewhere?
The Raiders signing Cousins makes a lot of sense from the team’s perspective. Whether the veteran signal-caller sees Las Vegas as his best opportunity, though, is another question altogether.
Cousins will turn 38 years old in August. With perhaps only one more chance to start in the league, Cousins might not want it to come with the worst team in the NFL last season.
However, the veteran might not have a lot of other options. The Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers are the only other teams with obvious starting quarterback openings.
Pittsburgh is an intriguing possibility. The Steelers are presumably waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision on the 2026 campaign. If Rodgers elects to retire, perhaps Mike McCarthy tries to court Cousins to Pittsburgh.
With the Steelers, Cousins would have a clear road to start the entire 2026 season if he plays well. The Steelers also have a much better roster than the Raiders or Cardinals. Pittsburgh has made the postseason three years in a row.
But it’s not clear when Rodgers might make his 2026 decision, and the Steelers appear to be in no rush to pursue other alternatives.
If the Steelers aren’t on the table, the Raiders could vault to the top of Cousins’s wish list.