The Las Vegas Raiders have found their veteran quarterback mentor. The team agreed to terms with free agent Kirk Cousins on Thursday, a move that pairs the 37-year-old with the quarterback the Raiders are widely expected to select with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft, Fernando Mendoza.
Cousins spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons after six years in Minnesota. In his lone season with the Falcons, he threw for 3,508 yards with 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He was released earlier this offseason.
Coach Klint Kubiak, who worked with Cousins for three seasons with the Vikings, has emphasized the importance of having a seasoned quarterback to guide Mendoza through the transition to the NFL. “We want a guy who can not only show him the ropes of being a pro but also potentially start games early in the season to ease the rookie’s transition,” Kubiak said.
The deal is expected to be team-friendly, giving the Raiders flexibility as they build around their future franchise quarterback.
Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler, has 43,596 career passing yards and 290 touchdown passes. His experience in Kubiak’s system should allow him to step in immediately as a mentor and potential bridge starter.
