Raiders agree to deal with Pro Bowler, while team is expected to draft QB with top pick

The Las Vegas Raiders person made a seasoned summation to their backmost room, adjacent though they are wide expected to usage the No. 1 wide prime successful the draught to prime Heisman Trophy winning-quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

The Raiders agreed to a declaration with Pro Bowl backmost Kirk Cousins connected Thursday, his cause announced. The presumption of the declaration are not yet known.

Cousins, 37, signed a four-year declaration with the Atlanta Falcons 2 seasons agone that could person been worthy up to $180 million, but was released 2 seasons aft signing it.

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Atlanta Falcons backmost Kirk Cousins (18) throws a walk against the New Orleans Saints successful the archetypal 4th astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium successful Atlanta, Georgia, connected Jan. 4, 2026. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)

Cousins was benched successful Week 15 successful 2024, the archetypal twelvemonth of the deal, for rookie Michael Penix Jr. aft the four-time Pro Bowler struggled down the agelong arsenic helium battled done injury. Cousins started 8 games past season, including the last 7 aft Penix tore his ACL, and the squad had a 5-3 grounds successful his starts, including winning the past four.

In 10 games and 8 starts past season, Cousins completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. The seasoned backmost has the 19th-most regular-season passing yards (44,700) and 15th-most-passing touchdowns (298) successful NFL history.

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Atlanta Falcons backmost Kirk Cousins (18) passes against the Carolina Panthers successful the 2nd fractional of an NFL shot crippled successful Atlanta connected Nov. 16, 2025. (Brynn Anderson/AP Photo)

Cousins besides has familiarity with caller Raiders caput manager Klint Kubiak. During Cousins’ clip with the Minnesota Vikings, Kubiak was his quarterbacks manager for 2 seasons and his violative coordinator for another.

The Raiders traded Geno Smith to the New York Jets aft 1 dismal play and were expected to adhd different seasoned backmost contempt having the apical enactment successful the NFL Draft, which they are apt to usage connected Mendoza.

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Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons warms up anterior to a crippled against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers astatine Raymond James Stadium successful Tampa, Florida, connected Dec. 11, 2025. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

However, Raiders number proprietor Tom Brady and wide manager John Spytek person said galore times that they judge successful not playing a young backmost close away, making it nary definite happening that Mendoza would commencement Week 1.

The squad brass, if they bash so prime Mendoza with the apical pick, mightiness similar to commencement Cousins portion Mendoza develops down the scenes to statesman the season.

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