The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to move for veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins as they look to provide a mentor for presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
League sources indicate that Tom Brady’s side are eyeing the 37-year-old following his official release from the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday afternoon.
The Raiders currently hold the top selection in April’s draft and are almost universally projected to take Mendoza, the Heisman-winning star from Indiana.
However, head coach Klint Kubiak is reportedly hesitant to throw a rookie straight into the fire for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
Instead, the team is exploring a ‘bridge’ strategy that would see an experienced signal-caller start the season while Mendoza adjusts to the professional game.
Insiders suggest that Cousins is the primary target for this role, given his extensive history with Kubiak during their time together with the Minnesota Vikings.
Tom Brady’s Las Vegas Raiders are expected to move for veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins
The Raiders hold the top selection in April’s draft and are projected to take Fernando Mendoza
‘Expect the Las Vegas Raiders to show interest in Kirk Cousins as they look for a veteran QB addition to help develop Mendoza,’ reported Dianna Russini.
The Raiders’ plan has been visible since the scouting combine, where it was noted the team preferred to start a veteran before introducing their rookie prize.
Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler, recently finished an eight-game stint as a starter in Atlanta, proving he still has plenty of gas left in the tank at 37.
He posted 1,721 passing yards and 10 touchdowns last season, stepping in for the Falcons after Michael Penix Jr. was sidelined with a knee injury.
The veteran’s familiarity with Kubiak’s system is a major selling point, as Cousins enjoyed one of his best career seasons under Kubiak’s direction in 2021.
Mendoza, meanwhile, is coming off a legendary 16-0 season at Indiana where he led the Hoosiers to their first-ever national championship and a Heisman Trophy.
The 21-year-old prospect has already met with Raiders officials, including owner Mark Davis and Tom Brady, and reportedly relishes the idea of veteran mentorship.
While Cousins is expected to explore all options, the chance to lead a high-profile rebuild in Las Vegas could be the final chapter in his storied 14-year career.
