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Raiders strike deal with veteran QB Kirk Cousins

By Thomson Reuters Apr 2, 2026 | 9:23 AM

Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins agreed to a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, his agent confirmed Thursday.

ESPN reported that Cousins will sign a five-year, $172 ​million contract, but only the first $20 million ‌is guaranteed. The Atlanta Falcons, his former team, will pay Cousins $8.7 million this season, with the Raiders adding $1.3 million. Las Vegas also will pay him a guaranteed $10 million roster bonus next March.

The contract ‌also ​contains a two-year, $80 million team ⁠option. This is the 11th ⁠consecutive season that Cousins will have a guaranteed contract, per ESPN.

Cousins, 37, reunites with new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, his position coach and offensive coordinator ​with the Minnesota Vikings from 2019-21.

In Las Vegas, Cousins potentially could serve as a mentor for Heisman ⁠Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, widely expected ⁠to be the No. 1 overall pick ​by the Raiders in the April 23-25 NFL Draft.

The only ​quarterback on the Raiders’ current roster is Aidan ‌O’Connell, a 2023 fourth-round pick who started 17 games from 2023-24 (7-10 record).

Cousins was released by the Falcons on March 11, two years into a four-year, $180 million deal he ⁠signed with the club in March 2024.

Cousins struggled down the stretch during his first season with the Falcons in 2024, ⁠throwing 18 touchdowns ‌to 16 interceptions and losing the starting ⁠job to rookie Michael Penix Jr. He ​played ‌better when he stepped in for Penix ​after the ⁠latter’s season-ending injury last November, throwing for 1,721 yards, 10 TDs and five picks in eight starts.

Over 174 games (167 starts) in 14 seasons, Cousins has completed 66.7% of his passes for 44,700 yards with 298 TDs and 131 ​interceptions.

–Field Level Media