Kirk Cousins
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TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 27: Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons reacts after their 31-26 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 27, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders signing QB Kirk Cousins looks really good on paper; despite being a “five-year, $172 million deal,” it’s essentially a one-year, fully guaranteed $20M contract with the Atlanta Falcons paying $8.7M of the contract this season, while the Raiders will cover just $1.3M this season plus a $10M guaranteed roster bonus in 2027.
Yet, despite this, they are receiving major pushback from Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk for “taking advantage of the loophole.”
Spotrac
The #Raiders have essentially signed Kirk Cousins to a 1 year, $11.3M contract, that will result in $20M cash.
Raiders 2026: $1.3M (gtd) 2027: $10M roster bonus (gtd)
Falcons 2026: $8.7M
By structuring the deal this way, the #Falcons will still be on the hook for $8.7M, due to
Raiders Received Major Pushback for Kirk Cousins Deal
Florio went on a rant about why he’s upset over the Raiders taking advantage of signing Cousins for less than what was initially proposed on paper.
“As mentioned on Thursday, it seems too easy. Too convenient. Too obvious that the Raiders came up with a way to get Cousins to $20 million while paying only $11.3 million of it.
Albert Breer of SI has wondered aloud whether the league will attempt to close that loophole. Frankly, it’s amazing the loophole even exists.
It’s something other teams could have been doing, whenever a player has guaranteed money from another team. Pay him the minimum now, and promise more later.
Legitimate or not under current rules, it seems as if the Raiders have pulled a fast one. Which should — as Michael Holley said on Friday’s PFT Live — dry any lingering crocodile tears regarding the Ravens‘ decision not to proceed with the Maxx Crosby trade.”
If other teams have been doing it, why complain when the Raiders make the same move? A lot of Raiders fans are upset with Florio, saying their thoughts on X:
“Of course florio is annoyed when the raiders do something lol” @robertnicastr18
“Raiders live rent free in florio’s head” @Tom_Schroeder89
“Always an issue once the Raiders benefit. Right on Que !” @_BIGJIM
The Raiders, Despite Florio’s Argument, Made A Smart Move Signing Cousins
Despite Florio’s pushback, the Raiders made a sneaky good move signing Cousins, and ESPN’s Mike Greenberg also agrees.
“When you look at the way the deal is structured, there’s no losing scenario,” Greenberg said on an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. “I have a philosophy that far more quarterbacks are ruined in the NFL than are developed. The Raiders are a team that has gotten almost everything wrong for it feels like such a long time, but now just in this little moment here, it feels like they’ve become the teams that gets everything right. I have loved everything that they’ve done this offseason.”
The Raiders have a proven starter who can give projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza time to develop before being thrown out as the starter, and Cousins’ contract is not breaking the bank.
Las Vegas still has the cap space to go out and make some more moves, or they could opt to focus on building through the draft and keep that extra cap space to hand some players an extension.
Either way, the Raiders’ signing Cousins isn’t some shady move, and he’ll be a great mentor for Mendoza and provide the team with another solid option at quarterback.