Kirk Cousins is going to be paired with a rookie quarterback once again.
The 14-year NFL veteran is signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, his agent Mike McCartney wrote on X Thursday. The quarterback’s decision comes after he was released by the Falcons at the start of the new league year.
It’s an intriguing move for the 37-year-old, who was blindsided by Atlanta drafting Michael Penix No. 8 overall in 2024, shortly after Cousins signed a $180 million contract with them. He’ll now likely pair with Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, the QB the Raiders are projected to take No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham told Cousins the news in late February. It wasn’t a complete shock due to Atlanta restructuring his contract that reduced his 2026 base salary from $35 million to $2.1 million.
He also would’ve been guaranteed $67.9 million in 2027 if he was still rostered by March 13.
“Out of respect for Kirk and (quarterback Michael Penix Jr.), felt like that was the right decision,” Cunningham said on 92.3 The Game.
Ever since Cousins left the Vikings, where he spent six years from 2018-23, his career has trended downward. He signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons in 2024, who then proceeded to draft Penix Jr. in the first round six weeks later.
Cousins famously admitted that he had no clue Atlanta was planning to select a signal-caller.
In two seasons with the Falcons, Cousins played 24 games and threw 28 touchdowns to a whopping 21 interceptions. He was benched for Penix Jr. in Week 16 of the 2024 season, and held the job in 2025 before a season-ending ACL tear.
The Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa after he was released by the Dolphins earlier this offseason — and he will now serve as Penix’s compeition for snaps.
Cousins finished his Atlanta career with a 12-10 record in 22 starts.
Prior to landing in Atlanta, he made four Pro Bowls across 11 years split between the Washington Commanders and Vikings. Cousins eclipsed 4,000 passing yards seven times and tossed a career-high 35 passing touchdowns in 2020.
His Minnesota tenure ended on a sad note with a torn Achilles midway through the 2023 campaign.
In his 14-year career, Cousins has racked up 44,700 career yards — which ranks 19th all-time — and 298 passing touchdowns.
He’d been linked to a return with the Vikings following the news of his release, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
