The Las Vegas Raiders have signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has a strong connection with head coach Klint Kubiak. Cousins, a fourth-round draft pick in 2012, previously played under Kubiak in Minnesota.
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 04: Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) drops back to pass during the NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons on January 4th, 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Las Vegas Raiders recently signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. Letâs got to know him some:
A system fit from the start:
Cousins was a fourth-round draft pick by Washington and head coach Mike Shanahan way back in 2012. Shanahan, of course, had new Raidersâ coach Klint Kubiakâs father Gary Kubiak, as his offensive coordinator in Denver for years. Mike Shanahan is also the father of San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan, who had Klint Kubiak on his staff. So, this is a natural fit. of course, Klint Kubiak coached Cousins in Minnesota f0r three seasons.
Financial winner:
Cousins is an all-time top five NFL money maker in terms of contract. He has reportedly made more than $330 million in his near decade and a half NFL career, An incredible 99 percent of his career earnings has been guaranteed. Thatâs winning at life.
Quirky Kirk:
Cousins is a fun character. He is known for being squeaky clean. But he also has gone viral for some shenanigans. In 2015, he dropped his famous âYou like that?â roar after leading Washington back from a 24-point halftime deficit at Jacksonville. Then, was the shirtless cabined-up airplane ride home while with Minnesota. Cousins has twice been featured on Netflixâs âQuarterbackâ documentary series. It portrayed him as a unapologetic family man who insists on taking Tuesdays off (a normal NFL day but for most players but not necessarily quarterback) to dedicate time to his home life. He is definitely an interesting figure.
Fit for Mendoza:
Cousinsâ personality should mesh with Mendoza, who is also known for having a somewhat quirky, fun personality. The two should be good for each other.
He can still play:
Cousins, who turns 38 in August, very well may begin the season as the Raidersâ starting quarterback while Mendoza learns from he bench for a short time. Cousins has started 30 games the past three seasons and had a 16-14 record as a starter in that time period. Yes, his best days are behind him, but Cousins is still capable if the Raiders need him on a limited basis.
The Raiders signed Kirk Cousins due to his familiarity with head coach Klint Kubiak's offensive system, having previously worked together in Minnesota.
Kirk Cousins was drafted in the fourth round by Washington in 2012 and has since played for several teams, including a notable tenure with the Minnesota Vikings.
Cousins fits into the Raiders' offensive strategy as he has experience in a similar system under Kubiak, which should facilitate a smoother transition and effective gameplay.
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