The Kirk Cousins Signing Tells You Everything About the Raiders' Plans

The Las Vegas Raiders made a move to shore up their quarterback room. What does the Kirk Cousins signing truly mean for them?

Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) on the field before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Las Vegas Raiders' offseason isn't done yet. They just made a move that pushes them closer to being a contender, as well as making their future even brighter by finding a mentor for their projected first overall pick quarterback.

They signed Kirk Cousins to a deal that's amazing value given his worth, as the Atlanta Falcons will be dealing with the bulk of his contract in 2026. This signing puts the Raiders in an interesting position, where, depending on how he does, he could extend his career even further and earn him a bigger payday.

Excellent Signing

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

It's clear that Cousins is a bridge quarterback, so they don't have to throw Fernando Mendoza into the fire in Week 1. Cousins is the perfect mentor for Mendoza, as not only do they have similar play styles, but their personalities are similar as well.

I'm not saying there will be a quarterback controversy between these two, because Mendoza is the future face of their franchise. However, Cousins has an opportunity to shock a lot of people in this offensive scheme by playing well and racking up wins in Las Vegas.

Mar 31, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak during the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

One of the reasons this is such an excellent signing is that it reunites Klint Kubiak with a quarterback he's had experience with in the past. Their bolstered offensive line should help the run game and protect Cousins from pressure, so he has a lot of tools in place to effectively manage their games and lead them to wins.

Brock Bowers tremendous rookie season came about due to the sheer volume of catches he was getting, as well as his natural talent for yards after the catch. All Cousins has to do is get the ball in his hands, rely on Ashton Jeanty and their improved rushing attack, and that'll be enough to get more wins than last season.

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

It is important to temper expectations as well. Cousins has consistently found himself in premium offensive situations, and yet he only has one career playoff win. He isn't consistent enough to go on a deep playoff run, but he has all the tools in Las Vegas to be an above-average quarterback.

I don't know at what point in the season Cousins would step down as their starter, but he's capable of getting hot and keeping that streak going for multiple weeks. The Raiders plan on mentoring their young quarterback, but also buy low on a veteran who can still have a lot left in the tank.