3 Biggest Positives of the Raiders Signing Kirk Cousins

The Las Vegas Raiders signed Kirk Cousins. What are some immediate takeaways?

Dec 29, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) celebrates after a victory over the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Las Vegas Raiders had made their plans clear on the direction they wanted to head in regarding their quarterback room for next season. Despite having the first overall pick, they didn't want to send their rookie signal-caller into the fire immediately.

It had been speculated that the Raiders were interested in signing Kirk Cousins, but those rumors became true this morning when they signed him to be their veteran quarterback. What are some of the biggest takeaways from this signing?

Familarity

Dec 8, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) celebrates after the game against Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images | Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

The first big takeaway from this signing is that Klint Kubiak is reuniting with Cousins after he was the quarterbacks coach and eventual offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings. Some of Cousins' best seasons in his career were under the coaching of Kubiak, so this is a very exciting prospect for their offense.

Cousins may not be the same quarterback as he was back then, but John Spytek made sure to bolster their offensive line this offseason. Cousins' decision-making becomes erratic under pressure, but if they can reduce that pressure, he'll be able to get the ball to their weapons effectively.

Contract

Feb 6, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Kirk Cousins on the Opening Drive show at the SiriusXM NFL radio set at the Super Bowl LX media center at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The next takeaway from this signing is his contract. A five-year $172 million contract sounds absurd for a quarterback who isn't their franchise signal caller, but that number is misleading. The Atlanta Falcons will help pay for his contract, which means that for 2026, the Raiders will be paying $1.3 million for one of the best backups in the league.

That's amazing value for a player of his caliber. This isn't going to stop the Raiders from selecting a quarterback in the first round, but for what they're paying, it doesn't hurt to see if Cousins still has something left in the tank.

Mentorship

Dec 29, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) warms up before a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Finally, one of the biggest takeaways from this signing is his role as a mentor for their next franchise quarterback. Fernando Mendoza has a lot of traits similar to Cousins, as they're both primarily pocket passers with limited playmaking. Cousins was drafted in the fourth round, but he's been in high-pressure situations in his career, where he's come out on top and lost his team games.

As a mentor, I believe Cousins has a lot to teach Mendoza about the highs and lows of the NFL, as well as how to manage a game effectively. The biggest difference between these two is the physical gifts Mendoza possesses, but if he can learn a solid foundation from Cousins, it'll all be to the Raiders' benefit.