Scott Gulbransen
Klint Kubiak said he wanted a veteran quarterback to help shepherd the Raiders’ future signal-caller, and on Thursday, he got exactly that.
Kirk Cousins is heading to Las Vegas after agreeing to terms with the Raiders, giving the team a seasoned starter to anchor the quarterback room while Fernando Mendoza — widely expected to go No. 1 overall later this month — gets acclimated to life in the NFL. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but the role couldn’t be clearer, and honestly, it fits perfectly for where this team is right now.
What makes this more than just a warm-body signing is the relationship between Cousins and Kubiak. The two worked together in Minnesota, where Kubiak served as his QB coach before being elevated to offensive coordinator. That familiarity matters. Cousins isn’t walking into a foreign system with a coaching staff he’s never met; he’s reuniting with someone who knows exactly how to get the best out of him.
Bounce Back for Cousins Could Help Raiders Significantly
Yes, the last two years in Atlanta were rocky. Cousins dealt with injuries, a complicated dynamic with Michael Penix Jr., and an organization that never quite committed to one direction. But the situation in Las Vegas is fundamentally different. The Raiders know what they’re building, Kubiak has a clear vision for how this offense operates, and Cousins gets to be the steady veteran presence rather than a franchise quarterback under pressure to deliver immediately.
I’ve been straightforward about my expectations for this team in 2026: this is a rebuild, and progress matters more than wins right now. Adding a quarterback with 174 NFL starts who already has a relationship with the head coach moves the needle in the right direction. Mendoza gets time to develop the right way, the offense has an experienced hand running it on Sundays, and this Raiders team heads into the season with a plan at the most important position on the field.
That’s a better starting point than most people expected a few months ago.
