The Las Vegas Raiders have a new mentor at quarterback and perhaps a Week 1 starter.
The Raiders have signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. This was an expected move since Cousins was released by the Atlanta Falcons. His agency announced it Thursday morning.
New Las Vegas head coach Klint Kubiak was Cousins’ quarterbacks coach for two seasons and his offensive coordinator for one season with the Minnesota Vikings spanning 2019-21. New Las Vegas offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko spent four seasons with Cousins in Minnesota and was his quarterbacks coach for a season.
The Raiders need a veteran quarterback for the new regime and Cousins is a logical choice. The Raiders are fully expected to draft Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick. Cousins can serve as his mentor.
However, in February, Raiders’ general manager John Spytek said he is not usually a fan of having a rookie quarterback start Week 1. So, there is a chance Cousins can play in 2026, at least, early in the season.
Cousins turns 38 in August. He has dealt with injuries in recent years. He started eight games in 2024.
