Cardinals Didn’t Land Kirk Cousins, And That’s a Good Thing

Kirk Cousins is signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, and while it's a smart move for the organization with the No. 1 overall pick, the Arizona Cardinals (and their fans) should be just fine without his services.

The Cardinals were indeed in on Cousins according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini. After parting ways with franchise quarterback Kyler Murray, the Cardinals needed a fresh presence in the room.

Cousins had interest from several teams, including the Cardinals, Rams, and Packers. https://t.co/026uJyQtDd
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 2, 2026

After being outbid for Malik Willis and talks with Jimmy Garoppolo stalled in free agency, the Cardinals left the open market with clear backup Gardner Minshew to play second fiddle to Jacoby Brissett.

That's not quite enticing in terms of power within the quarterback room, and while Cousins would have been an obvious starter if he landed in Arizona, the two respective timelines between organization/player didn't quite match.

Why Kirk Cousins Didn't Make Sense for Cardinals

Cousins, from a schematic standpoint, absolutely made sense. His work under offensive mind Kyle Shanahan would made him a strong fit for head coach Mike LaFleur and what he plans on doing with the Cardinals' offense.

Especially in the first year, familiarity is key in terms of install and overall operation. Cousins, in that aspect, would be been a solid move.

What makes Cousins particularly smart for the Raiders is his ability to start from Day 1 while also providing strong mentorship for projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, who will one day look to take the throne at quarterback but now won't be rushed into it right away.

That's a smart move, though the Cardinals are still wildcards in terms of drafting a quarterback (cough, Ty Simpson) and don't have a clear path for Cousins' mentorship. Brissett and Minshew are veteran, journeyman quarterbacks who are established in their own rights.

The cost of Cousins also didn't quite make sense for Arizona as well. Cousins' deal ultimately turns into a one-year contract for $20 million fully guaranteed — which is fair money for a bridge quarterback.

However, the Cardinals already have their bridge quarterback in Brissett at a $9.1 million cap charge this season. With where Arizona is at in the first year of LaFleur's tenure, pouring anything more than minimal resources into the quarterback room (in terms of free agency) just didn't make a ton of sense.

Cousins is better than Brissett, but would he have led the Cardinals into a playoff spot in 2026? Evalauting the roster and the rest of the NFC West turns that answer into a fairly quick no. Cousins is also not a long-term answer at the position.

It's understandable fans don't want to watch Brissett for another season, but it's also understandable for Arizona to not want to add more money to their quarterback room where other positions clearly need more talent.