Cousins, 37, joins a Raiders team widely anticipated to select quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. He will reunite with Raiders first-year head coach Klint Kubiak, who previously worked with Cousins as part of the Minnesota Vikings staff. The pairing brings depth of experience and familiarity at a pivotal point for Las Vegas’s quarterback room.
In the 2025-26 season, Cousins completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions, according to NFL data. The move to Las Vegas positions him as an experienced option to guide a team eyeing a potential transition under a new franchise-era quarterback.
Reaction from NFL analysts and fans has been mixed but generally positive, with excitement surrounding the potential mentorship role Cousins could provide to a budding rookie quarterback while infusing veteran leadership into the Raiders’ offense. Social media accounts representing Raider Nation have reflected cautious optimism about the fit and timeline.
Overall, this agreement reinforces Las Vegas’s intent to contend while integrating a veteran signal-caller who has familiarity with the coaching staff. As the league approaches the draft, the fallout and plans for the Raiders’ quarterback position will become clearer, with the organization balancing immediate needs and long-term development under a new regime.
