ESPN briefly interrupted its regular programming on ‘Get Up’ to share breaking news regarding a massive signing made by the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday
10:51 ET, 02 Apr 2026Updated 10:51 ET, 02 Apr 2026
NFL Insider Adam Schefter shared breaking news on Thursday's episode of 'Get Up'
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NFL Insider Adam Schefter shared breaking news on Thursday's episode of 'Get Up'(Image: Get Up)
ESPN momentarily halted its regular programming on ‘Get Up’ to announce a major offseason move made by the Raiders and minority owner Tom Brady.
On Thursday, the Raiders — who are expected to select Indiana product Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft — further improved under center by agreeing to a contract with Kirk Cousins. The veteran signal-caller is slated to reunite with Klint Kubiak, having spent three years with the first-year head coach on the Minnesota Vikings.
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Upon returning from a commercial break, ‘Get Up’ host Mike Greenberg swiftly introduced the breaking news before passing it over to NFL Insider Adam Schefter. “The Las Vegas Raiders are signing Kirk Cousins to play quarterback out in Vegas where Fernando Mendoza is expected to be the number one pick,” Schefter began.
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“There's a connection between the Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak and Kirk Cousins. They spent three seasons together in Minnesota. They now will be reunited in Las Vegas.
“And there's a real possibility that the Raiders opening day starting quarterback will be Kirk Cousins over the number one potential pick Fernando Mendoza. But Kirk Cousins, who moved on from Atlanta, who wanted to continue playing, now has reached agreement this morning with the Las Vegas Raiders.”
In March 2024, the Falcons inked Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract that included $100 million in guarantees. But the 37-year-old failed to live up to the lucrative deal, resulting in him being benched for Michael Penix Jr. 15 weeks into the 2024 campaign.
The Falcons began last season soaring high after winning six out of their first nine games, but took a massive nosedive by going 1-4 over their ensuing five contests. During that period, Cousins tossed one touchdown compared to nine interceptions en route to finishing the year with the most picks thrown in the NFL (16).
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Though Cousins began last season on the bench, he eventually took over under center once Penix suffered a torn ACL in Week 11. Over 10 games, he completed 166-of-269 passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.
While Cousins may be in the twilight of his career, ‘Get Up’ pundits Tim Hasselbeck and Jordan Rodgers asserted that he was the perfect fit for the Raiders’ long term plans. “I love it,” Hasselbeck said.
“I love the history between Kubiak and Kirk Cousins. I love the type of veteran that you're signing for Mendoza to learn from. Cousins will be an absolute pro in terms of how he prepares. Not that Mendoza needs some unbelievable example in terms of that, [it] seems like he's already off to a good start.
“But it's a good confirming example for him. It's also a guy that has the battle scars of playing in an offense and some of the things that Mendoza is gonna be able to learn from. So I think it's a perfect environment.”
Kirk Cousins appears on SiriusXM
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Kirk Cousins and the Raiders are in agreement on a contract(Image: Getty Images)
Rodgers insisted that Cousins’ signing was the “best thing that could have ever happened to Fernando Mendoza,” adding: “This is an opportunity to learn, to pace yourself without the pressure that goes into being a number one overall pick on a roster that, frankly, is probably not ready for you to have success with that wide receiver room.
“Having a veteran like Kirk Cousins — and even more importantly — a veteran that plays the position the same way that Fernando Mendoza does.
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“[Cousins] wins between the ears, good arm, not great arm talent, a guy that can win from the pocket and teach you and help you learn that process before the pressure really amps up.”