{"id":923622,"date":"2026-06-20T02:54:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T02:54:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/923622\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T02:54:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T02:54:16","slug":"raiders-qb-kirk-cousins-just-made-the-perfect-comparison-to-a-depth-player-on-the-roster-and-it-only-helps-his-value","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/923622\/","title":{"rendered":"Raiders QB Kirk Cousins just made the perfect comparison to a depth player on the roster, and it only helps his value"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Las Vegas Raiders have a very, very good quarterback room, and we can thank Kirk Cousins, Fernando Mendoza, and Aidan O\u2019Connell for that.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Las
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJun 9, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarteback Kirk Cousins (8) during minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> have built one of the deepest quarterback rooms in the NFL this offseason. They are rostering three signal-callers, each serving a distinct purpose. <\/p>\n

Kirk Cousins is the veteran starter<\/a>, and Fernando Mendoza is the franchise quarterback<\/a> of the future. Then there is Aidan O\u2019Connell, who might be the best QB3 in the league. Cousins recently drew a fascinating parallel between his own career trajectory and O\u2019Connell\u2019s. He\u2019s suggesting the young quarterback\u2019s best football could still be ahead of him.<\/p>\n

Kirk Cousins sees himself in Aidan O\u2019Connell<\/p>\n

\u201cI really believe strongly that Aidan\u2019s best football in this league is ahead of him, and if you know my story, you know my fourth year in the league was when everything kind of turned for me,\u201d Cousins told reporters. \u201cAnd Aidan\u2019s in his fourth year now, and I\u2019ve seen a lot of quarterbacks come through Washington<\/a>, Minnesota<\/a>, Atlanta<\/a>, I\u2019ve observed a lot. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere were eight guys in my draft class who were all kind of expected to have great careers, so I\u2019ve followed guys for a long time, and there\u2019s a lot about Aidan O\u2019Connell where I say, \u2018Why can\u2019t this guy have a long, successful career in this league?\u2019 Like, I\u2019m just seeing all the traits that you have to have to be a great player in this league. So, I think he\u2019s got a bright future and his best football\u2019s ahead of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

QB Aidan O’Connell enters his fourth year in the NFL, at the moment competing with Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza on the #Raiders<\/a> <\/p>\n

Cousins spoke highly of AOC, and says his best football is ahead of him, and that he sees a lot of himself in the young QB #RaiderNation<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/wcxTb4vNfL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Raider Nation Radio (@RNR920AM) June 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Cousins used his own fourth NFL season as the reference point. That was the year things started to click for Cousins, when he transitioned from a backup and spot starter into a legitimate franchise-caliber player. He sees a similar inflection point ahead for O\u2019Connell. AOC is set to enter his fourth season in 2026 with 17 career starts under his belt.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Connell has shown flashes throughout his time in Las Vegas. He stepped into the lineup multiple times over the past two seasons and held his own. And, even on rosters that lacked offensive talent around him, he did well. The Raiders clearly value what he brings to the room, and Cousins\u2019 endorsement only reinforces the idea that O\u2019Connell has untapped potential.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s where it gets interesting from a roster-building perspective. The Raiders aren\u2019t going to carry three capable quarterbacks forever. Kubiak did keep three with the Seattle Seahawks last season, but that was a very different situation. Mendoza is the long-term answer, Cousins is the bridge, and O\u2019Connell is the insurance policy. That insurance policy, though, holds real value on the trade market.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Connell could be a legitimate trade piece for the Raiders at the deadline. A quarterback with 17 NFL starts entering his fourth year fits the profile of what contending teams look for when injuries strike midseason. Vegas would be smart to hold on to him till the deadline rather than deal him before Week 1. Injuries happen across the league. And, a quarterback-needy team in October or November would likely pay a higher price than anyone would in June.<\/p>\n

That calculus makes sense for Las Vegas on multiple levels. Cousins provides stability for coach Klint Kubiak\u2019s first season as the head man, Mendoza gets to develop behind a proven veteran, and O\u2019Connell stays ready in case something goes wrong before the trade deadline arrives. If the Raiders make it to midseason healthy at the position, they can flip O\u2019Connell for draft capital and reinvest in the roster around Mendoza. And, Cousins may have just helped improve O\u2019Connell\u2019s stock.<\/p>\n

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

Minnesota Vikings News<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u2018That\u2019s where we\u2019re at right now\u2019 \u2014 Vikings HC Kevin O\u2019Connell emphasizes the quarterback competition timeline\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

Thursday afternoon brought more clarity to the quarterback competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy.<\/p>\n