The Las Vegas Raiders have signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has been to the Pro Bowl four times. This means that the team is looking for a new quarterback. Several sources say that Cousins is joining the Raiders, and his agent made the announcement on Thursday morning. He will now join rookie head coach Kliff Kubiak’s offense.
The Raiders’ plan to pick power-armed Indiana gunslinger Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft fits with the addition of Cousins. Kubiak has said in public that he would rather not start a rookie in Week 1, and he has also said that a bridge quarterback would be best while Mendoza learns the system.
Cousins has been in the NFL for more than ten years, and he has played in a lot of Shanahan-style offenses in Washington and Minnesota. These are the kinds of offenses that Kubiak likes to run. Cousins has been in the league for 15 years and can help Mendoza grow by being a steady leader, making quick decisions, and keeping the locker room stable.
Cousins is said to be looking for a one-year deal worth around 10 million dollars, which the Raiders can easily afford under the salary cap. That kind of deal lets Las Vegas keep its options open while still protecting the long-term investment in the new quarterback.
The Raiders want to compete right away with Kirk Cousins, but they are still building around a high draft pick.
The Cousins signing gives Raiders fans a short-term boost in talk about making the playoffs, but it doesn’t change the team’s long-term plans for quarterback. As the NFL’s offseason gets busier, Las Vegas is becoming one of the most talked-about teams in the AFC West. They have a clear plan for their quarterback that includes veterans and a top rookie.
