Kirk Cousins quarterback Minnesota Vikings
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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 29: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings calls a play against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field on October 29, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Kirk Cousins might have reunited with the Minnesota Vikings had the situation between Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals played out differently, but instead he is headed to the desert to join the Las Vegas Raiders.
That the Raiders brought in a veteran ahead of selecting No. 1 in this month’s NFL draft, where most analysts are all but certain the team will acquire Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza of Indiana, is not a surprise.
Las Vegas probably won’t be competitive immediately, so bringing Mendoza along gradually and inserting him in the starting lineup later in the year when he is more prepared is a prudent strategy for Raiders minority owner Tom Brady and Klint Kubiak, the Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator with the Seattle Seahawks in February turned first-time head coach.
What is worthy of a turned head and a cocked eyebrow is the deal the Raiders offered to Cousins, which he signed and the details of which ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported via social media on Thursday, April 2.
Adam Schefter
Comp update: Kirk Cousins will sign a five-year, $172 million deal with the Raiders that in reality is a one-year, fully-guaranteed $20 million deal that also contains a club option for two years at $80M.
The Falcons will pay Cousins $8.7 million this season, the Raiders another
“Comp update: Kirk Cousins will sign a five-year, $172 million deal with the Raiders that in reality is a one-year, fully-guaranteed $20 million deal that also contains a club option for two years at $80M,” Schefter wrote. “The Falcons will pay Cousins $8.7 million this season, the Raiders another $1.3 million and Las Vegas also agreed to pay its new QB a fully-guaranteed $10 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2027 new league year.”
“And maybe most notably, it also sets another new mark: this will be the 11th straight NFL season in which Cousins’ contract will be fully guaranteed,” Schefter continued.
Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler, will play his 15th professional campaign in 2026 at the age of 38.
The author will update this post.