Raiders Sign QB Kirk Cousins to 1-Year Deal

Veteran quarterback joins Las Vegas on fully guaranteed contract with option for 2 more years.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 5:41pm

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The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to sign veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a one-year, $20 million contract. Cousins, a 37-year-old four-time Pro Bowler, was recently released by the Atlanta Falcons, who will pay $8.7 million of his salary this season. The deal includes a two-year option worth $80 million. Cousins will join a Raiders quarterbacks room that includes Aidan O'Connell and could soon add former Indiana star Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to be the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Why it matters

The addition of Cousins provides the Raiders with an experienced and proven quarterback to lead their offense as they look to build on their recent success. Cousins' arrival also raises questions about the future of the team's current quarterbacks and how the competition for the starting job will play out.

The details

Cousins' one-year contract with the Raiders is fully guaranteed, and the deal also includes a two-year option worth $80 million. The Atlanta Falcons, who released Cousins this offseason, will pay the 14-year veteran $8.7 million this coming season, while the Raiders will pay him $1.3 million and a $10 million roster bonus. In 2025, Cousins completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions in 10 games for the Falcons.

  • Cousins was released by the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.
  • The Raiders agreed to sign Cousins to a one-year, $20 million contract on April 2, 2026.

The players

Kirk Cousins

A 37-year-old veteran quarterback who has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times during his 14-year NFL career. Cousins was recently released by the Atlanta Falcons, where he spent the last two seasons.

Aidan O'Connell

A quarterback currently on the Raiders' roster who will be competing for the starting job alongside Cousins.

Fernando Mendoza

A former Indiana University quarterback who is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and could join the Raiders' quarterback room.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to bring in a veteran quarterback like Kirk Cousins to compete for the starting job. His experience and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to build a championship-caliber team.”

— Dave Ziegler, Raiders General Manager

What’s next

The Raiders will hold an open competition for the starting quarterback job during training camp and the preseason, with Cousins, O'Connell, and potentially Mendoza all vying for the role.

The takeaway

The Raiders' signing of Kirk Cousins adds an experienced and accomplished quarterback to their roster, providing them with a proven option to lead their offense as they look to build on their recent success. However, the move also raises questions about the future of the team's current quarterbacks and how the competition for the starting job will play out.