jon gruden
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Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been openly talking about wanting to add a veteran quarterback, and Kirk Cousins has been considered a logical option since the start of free agency. After weeks of speculation, the team finally cut a deal with the former Pro Bowl quarterback.
He’s coming to the Raiders on a one-year deal, and it sounds like the plan is for him to start in 2026, while likely No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza sits behind him. This could end up being a controversial topic down the road, but for now, there’s some excitement for the team adding a quarterback that Mendoza has often been compared to.
One person who is very excited about the pairing is former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. He loves Cousins and is happy to see him on his former team.
“Kirk in the Silver and Black!!” Gruden wrote on X. “Two of my favorites joining forces! Let’s GO!”
The Raiders could’ve gone a few different directions at quarterback, but Cousins made a lot of sense due to the fact that he previously worked with head coach Klint Kubiak on the Minnesota Vikings. He should have an easy time readjusting to the offense and should also be a resource to help teach Mendoza the ins and outs.
Should Cousins Be the Starting QB?
The Raiders are giving Cousins $20 million fully guaranteed for one season. That’s not backup money, that’s starter money. General manager John Spytek has said he doesn’t love the idea of making a rookie the starter on Day 1, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
However, it’s very rare for a No. 1 pick quarterback not to start a game as a rookie. The pressure to get him on the field is going to be immense, even early in the season. Cousins is 37 and hasn’t been the same player since hurting his Achilles. Plus, the Raiders aren’t a supremely talented team.
If he loses his first couple of starts, there are going to be loud calls from the fan base to get Mendoza on the field. The Raiders likely promised Cousins he’ll be the starter, but he’s going to have to play like he did when he last made the Pro Bowl in 2022 if he’s going to fend off the rookie.
Cousins Addition Still Makes a Lot of Sense
Unlike when the Falcons signed Cousins, only to draft Michael Penix Jr. in the first round a month later, this is a one-year commitment from the Raiders. Even if Cousins lasts a few games before Mendoza takes over, he’s not a bad quarterback to have on the roster.
This time around, he knows that he’s going to be working with a highly drafted rookie. He was totally caught off guard when the Falcons added Penix.
The Raiders couldn’t go into the season with Aidan O’Connell being the only other prominent quarterback in the room. Cousins is a very good option to help mentor Mendoza if he’s willing to help the young quarterback. Plus, his presence makes Kubiak’s rookie year as a head coach less complicated. It’s easy to see why the Raiders were eager to make this move.