The Las Vegas Raiders have signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a five-year, $172 million contract, though the deal is structured as a one-year, fully guaranteed $20 million agreement with club options for two additional years. The Raiders will pay Cousins $1.3 million in 2026, while the Atlanta Falcons will cover $8.7 million, and Las Vegas will also pay a $10 million roster bonus in March 2027. This marks the 11th straight NFL season in which Cousins' contract will be fully guaranteed, surpassing Tom Brady's career earnings.
Cousins, 37, spent the last two seasons with the Falcons, where he was benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. in 2024. He completed 61.7% of his passes last season with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. The Raiders are widely expected to draft Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, who previously worked with Cousins in Minnesota, has emphasized the value of a veteran quarterback mentoring a rookie. However, it remains unclear whether Mendoza will start immediately or learn behind Cousins. The Raiders traded Geno Smith earlier this offseason, signaling their intent to add a veteran quarterback despite their draft position.
Cousins' deal includes a $10 million roster bonus due in March 2027, which will push his career earnings past $341 million, surpassing Brady's $333 million. The Falcons released Cousins after drafting Penix Jr. in 2024, leading to a shared role before Cousins was benched. He has 44,700 career passing yards and 298 touchdowns, ranking 19th and 15th all-time, respectively.