Raiders sign Kirk Cousins to give expected top pick Fernando Mendoza a veteran presence
📚 Related People & Topics
Kirk Cousins
American football player (born 1988)
Kirk Daniel Cousins (born August 19, 1988) is an American professional football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft....
Fernando Mendoza
American football player (born 2003)
Fernando Gabriel Mendoza V (born October 1, 2003) is an American college football quarterback for the Indiana Hoosiers. Mendoza previously played for the California Golden Bears before transferring to Indiana in 2025, where he won the Heisman Trophy among other awards en route to a national champion...
Entity Intersection Graph
Connections for Kirk Cousins:
Mentioned Entities
Deep Analysis
Why It Matters
This signing matters because it directly impacts the Raiders' quarterback strategy and their development plan for a potential franchise quarterback. It affects Raiders fans who have been seeking stability at the quarterback position, the team's offensive coaching staff who now have a proven veteran to run their system, and the NFL landscape as Cousins moves to a new team after establishing himself as a consistent starter. The move also impacts Fernando Mendoza's development trajectory, as having a veteran mentor could accelerate his growth and readiness for NFL competition.
Context & Background
- Kirk Cousins has been one of the NFL's most consistent quarterbacks over the past decade, starting for Washington and Minnesota while earning multiple Pro Bowl selections
- The Las Vegas Raiders have struggled with quarterback stability since Derek Carr's departure, cycling through multiple starters including Jimmy Garoppolo and Aidan O'Connell
- Fernando Mendoza is projected to be a top quarterback prospect in the upcoming NFL draft, though his exact draft position remains uncertain until the draft occurs
- The Raiders have historically valued veteran quarterback presence, with past examples including Rich Gannon's late-career success that led the team to a Super Bowl appearance
What Happens Next
The Raiders will likely announce contract details including length and financial terms in the coming days. During offseason workouts and training camp, Cousins will establish himself as the starter while mentoring Mendoza. The NFL draft in late April will confirm whether the Raiders actually select Mendoza with their first-round pick. Preseason games will reveal how quickly Mendoza adapts to NFL speed and whether he can challenge for playing time during his rookie season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Cousins will almost certainly be the Week 1 starter given his experience and contract investment. The Raiders signed him to provide immediate stability while developing their rookie quarterback for the future.
This provides Mendoza with an ideal mentor situation where he can learn from a proven veteran without immediate pressure to start. He'll have time to develop his skills while adjusting to the NFL before potentially taking over in future seasons.
If the Raiders select a different player with their top pick, Cousins would still provide veteran leadership but the team would need to adjust their quarterback development plan. They might target a different quarterback later in the draft or pursue other developmental options.
Cousins will likely start for at least the 2024 season, possibly longer depending on his performance and Mendoza's development timeline. His contract terms will reveal the team's planned transition period to their young quarterback.
This likely means Aidan O'Connell and other current Raiders quarterbacks will compete for backup roles behind Cousins. The team appears committed to developing Mendoza as their long-term solution while using Cousins as a bridge starter.