Raiders bring on Kirk Cousins to challenge Fernando Mendoza

Raiders Bolster Quarterback Position Ahead of Mendoza’s Arrival

With less than three weeks before bringing Fernando Mendoza into the fold, the Raiders are making strides to enhance their quarterback situation. They’re aiming to create a supportive environment for Mendoza, who they believe can be pivotal in reestablishing the team’s former glory.

A significant part of this strategy includes bringing in a veteran quarterback to help bridge the gap before Mendoza steps into the starting role. This veteran can also provide insights into the NFL experience for the current Heisman Trophy winner.

This past Thursday, the Raiders announced the signing of Kirk Cousins, a 14-year NFL veteran who has played for Washington, Minnesota, and Atlanta. Cousins is well-acquainted with offensive strategies akin to those that Klint Kubiak, the new Raiders head coach, is planning to implement.

Kubiak and Cousins share a history from their three seasons together at the Vikings, where Kubiak was the quarterbacks coach for two years and then the offensive coordinator for one. Under Kubiak’s direction in 2021, Cousins achieved a career-high of 33 touchdowns against just seven interceptions, completing 66.3 percent of his passes for 4,221 yards.

Now, at 37, Cousins has played the last two seasons with the Falcons, but his performance has been less impressive, especially after recovering from a serious Achilles injury in 2023.

After restructuring his hefty contract three weeks ago, the Falcons released Cousins. His new deal with the Raiders appears substantial on paper—worth $172 million over five years—but it’s mostly for cap management. In reality, it’s a one-year contract valued at $20 million, with the Raiders only committing $1.3 million this year, while the Falcons will cover $8.7 million. They also included a fully guaranteed $10 million roster bonus, set to kick in March 2027.

This means he’ll receive $11.3 million in 2026, but just $1.3 million initially, allowing the team to reassess after the season.

From the Raiders’ perspective, signing Cousins serves several purposes supporting Mendoza’s growth. The team is careful to outline their plans for Mendoza, emphasizing they won’t rush him into a position of immense pressure.

Any decision regarding Mendoza’s transition to starting quarterback will depend significantly on his readiness. The organization is determined to avoid the fate of many other teams that have hastily elevated young players, often resulting in disappointment and setbacks.

Bringing Cousins into the mix provides a safety net if Mendoza is not prepared for the starting role or if they have concerns about the support structure around him.

“In a perfect scenario, we wouldn’t want him starting right away. Learning from an experienced player is ideal,” Kubiak mentioned at the NFL owners conference. “Yet, that isn’t always the case. As coaches, it’s our responsibility to prepare them.”

The circumstances surrounding Kubiak and his plans improved greatly with this signing. Should Cousins fully recover, even at this stage in his career, he should be capable of delivering solid performance while awaiting Mendoza’s readiness.

Moreover, Cousins’ familiarity with Kubiak’s system and his deep understanding of the game can not only expedite Mendoza’s learning process but also offer him a mentor to emulate.