{"id":850081,"date":"2026-04-02T21:44:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T21:44:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/850081\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T21:44:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T21:44:22","slug":"kirk-cousins-sets-record-by-signing-stunning-raiders-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/850081\/","title":{"rendered":"Kirk Cousins Sets Record by Signing Stunning Raiders Contract"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Kirk\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 29: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings calls a play against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field on October 29, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Kirk Cousins<\/a> might have reunited with the Minnesota Vikings<\/a> had the situation between Kyler Murray<\/a> and the Arizona Cardinals<\/a> played out differently, but instead he is headed to the desert to join the Las Vegas Raiders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That the Raiders brought in a veteran ahead of selecting No. 1 in this month\u2019s NFL<\/a> draft, where most analysts are all but certain the team will acquire Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza<\/a>\u00a0of Indiana, is not a surprise.<\/p>\n

Las Vegas probably won\u2019t be competitive immediately, so bringing Mendoza along gradually and inserting him in the starting lineup later in the year when he is more prepared is a prudent strategy for Raiders minority owner Tom Brady<\/a> and Klint Kubiak<\/a>, the Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator with the Seattle Seahawks<\/a> in February turned first-time head coach.<\/p>\n

What is worthy of a turned head and a cocked eyebrow is the deal the Raiders offered to Cousins, which he signed and the details of which ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter reported via social media on Thursday, April 2.<\/p>\n

Comp update: Kirk Cousins will sign a five-year, $172 million deal with the Raiders that in reality is a one-year, fully-guaranteed $20 million deal that also contains a club option for two years at $80M.<\/p>\n

The Falcons will pay Cousins $8.7 million this season, the Raiders another <\/p>\n

\u201cComp update: Kirk Cousins<\/a> will sign a five-year, $172 million deal with the Raiders that in reality is a one-year, fully-guaranteed $20 million deal that also contains a club option for two years at $80M,\u201d Schefter wrote<\/a>. \u201cThe Falcons<\/a> will pay Cousins $8.7 million this season, the Raiders another $1.3 million and Las Vegas also agreed to pay its new QB a fully-guaranteed $10 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2027 new league year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd maybe most notably, it also sets another new mark: this will be the 11th straight NFL season in which Cousins\u2019 contract will be fully guaranteed,\u201d Schefter continued.<\/p>\n

Kirk Cousins to Become Second-Highest Paid Player in NFL History After New Deal\"Kirk<\/p>\n

GettyFormer Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.<\/p>\n

Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler, will play his 15th professional campaign in 2026 at the age of 38.<\/p>\n

That he continues to land high-paying, fully-guaranteed contracts is a testament to Cousins\u2019 patience, negotiating strategy, willingness to bet on himself and the longevity of his talent.<\/p>\n

After the Raiders pay him out for his services in 2026, Cousins will have earned just north of an estimated $343 million<\/a> over his pro football tenure, per Spotrac. That tally will vault him ahead of Brady into second place all-time<\/a> in terms money earned on NFL contracts, trailing only reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford<\/a> of the Los Angeles Rams<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fun fact: the top 16 players on the current list are quarterbacks, with San Francisco 49ers<\/a> left tackle Trent Williams<\/a> slotting in at No. 17 heading into the upcoming campaign. Only four players in the top 25 play(ed) a position other than quarterback.<\/p>\n

Upcoming Season May Not Be Last for Kirk Cousins in NFL\"Kirk<\/p>\n

GettyQuarterback Kirk Cousins, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons.<\/p>\n

What is more, Cousins may not be finished after 2026 if he can stay healthy and continue playing like he did down the stretch of last season.<\/p>\n

He earned a record of 5-3 with Atlanta in 2025, completing nearly 62 percent of his pass attempts for 1,721 yards, 10 TDs and five INTs.<\/p>\n

Cousins is 88-77-2 as an NFL starter with 44,700 passing yards, 298 TDs and 131 INTs<\/a>. He should easily join the 300-TD club this season and has a good chance to surpass 100 wins and 50,000 passing yards if he starts the majority of the upcoming campaign with the Raiders and either returns to Las Vegas, or links up with another team, as a starter for some portion of 2027.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMax Dible<\/a> covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Vikings\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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