Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
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(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Kirk Cousins has found his new NFL home, and it will be with the Las Vegas Raiders. Kirk Cousins’ agent was the one who broke the news, but ESPN.com was quick to break it from there.
“Terms of the deal were not immediately available. Cousins will sign with the Raiders less than a month after being released by the Atlanta Falcons.”
“Cousins will join a Raiders team that is widely expected to select quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft later this month.”
Kirk Cousins, Los Angeles Rams
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 04: Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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Kirk Cousins Tenure with Atlanta
Kirk Cousins received a hefty four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons before the 2024 season. Six weeks after the Falcons signed the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Atlanta drafted Michael Penix Jr. with a top-10 pick in the NFL draft.
He will likely (certainly) serve as a backup QB to Mendoza once he is drafted first overall and acclimates to the Raiders’ system. However, Cousins is about as quality of a backup you can gave in the NFL.
When Penix Jr. tore his ACL towards the mid-way mark of last season, Cousins stepped right in and led the Falcons to a 5-3 record in the final eight games of the season. In 2025, Cousins completed 62% of his passes for 1,721 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
En route to being benched in 2024, he led the NFL with 16 interceptions in 14 games.
Kirk Cousins
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 22: Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on prior to a game against the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
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Kirk Cousins Finds Another NFL Job
Kirk Cousins, now 37 years old, will likely ride out into the sunset of his NFL career in a backup role.
However, there was no doubt he was going to be able to find another NFL gig before it’s all said and done. The 14-year NFL veteran has 298 career touchdowns, so he may be aiming to get a couple more to reach the 300 mark, which would be a huge accomplishment for Kirk.
Additionally, another 300 passing yards would give Cousins a round 45,000 for his career.
The Raiders will be his fourth NFL organization.
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins during an NFL game.
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