Kirk Cousins made his first public appearance as a Raider on Wednesday, and the veteran quarterback made it clear he isn’t expecting any favors. Speaking at his introductory news conference at the Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, the 14-year NFL veteran said he wants to earn the starting job, not be handed it.
“I think we all want to play, but I made it clear to (coach Klint Kubiak) that the best player needs to play,” Cousins said. “If that’s not me, I don’t want to be out there.”
Cousins signed with Las Vegas on Monday, even though the Raiders are widely expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in this month’s NFL draft. The 37-year-old acknowledged the possibility of working with the rookie, whom he met briefly during Mendoza’s draft visit.
“I’ve watched him from a distance,” Cousins said. “He had an incredible college career. I got to run into him (Tuesday) during his draft visit. He seems like a high-caliber person, and if we’re fortunate enough to get him here, it will be a privilege to work together.”
The most likely scenario has Cousins starting early in the season while mentoring Mendoza until the organization believes the rookie is ready. Cousins, who will turn 38 before the season, insists he still has plenty left in the tank. He started the final seven games for the Falcons last year, winning the last four.
“I certainly feel that way, but I’ve got to go prove it,” Cousins said when asked if his best football is ahead of him. “To just stand up here in April and say, ‘Oh yeah, my best football is ahead of me.’ That’s a pretty empty comment. But I believe that.”
The Raiders also announced Wednesday that they re-signed tight end Ian Thomas to a one-year contract. Thomas, 29, played 15 games last season with 10 starts, recording 13 catches for 114 yards. He has 132 career receptions for 1,176 yards over eight NFL seasons.
