The Las Vegas Raiders have things set at the starting quarterback spot ahead of the 2026 season, with the team set to take Indiana superstar Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
But things are less than settled in the backup quarterback spot, where the Raiders only have failed 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell. At the very least, Las Vegas should bring in more competition for the 27-year-old.
Not only could the Raiders use a more established option to keep the team afloat just in case Mendoza gets hurt, but the young quarterback could use a mentor behind him, also.
Kirk Cousins is Raiders ‘prime option’
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is “considered a prime option” to back up Mendoza.
Fowler adds that the Raiders did try to sign fellow veteran signal-caller Joe Flacco before he ultimately re-upped with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Los Angeles Rams could be competition for Cousins, also, Fowler notes.
“Signs point to the Las Vegas Raiders adding a veteran quarterback to pair with Fernando Mendoza, and Kirk Cousins is considered a prime option,” Fowler reported. “The Raiders tried to sign Joe Flacco, who opted to stay with Cincinnati. Cousins’ name came up a few times when I asked about what the Raiders might do next, though the Rams are a possibility for Cousins, too.”
It is a bit surprising that Cousins hasn’t landed in a new home yet after being cut loose by the Falcons earlier this offseason.
That likely stems from his desire to find a starting job, but those jobs have dried up and the only one remaining is the Pittsburgh Steelers’, although the expectation continues to be that quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be back.
Why Cousins-Raiders pairing makes sense
Perhaps once that domino falls, Cousins will turn his attention to the best backup jobs possible. The Raiders could offer one of them for a few reasons.
There remains an outside chance Las Vegas decides that Mendoza isn’t ready to start in Week 1, in which case Cousins would get the nod.
We also don’t know exactly how Mendoza will hold up physically in the NFL, and if he fails to do that in his first season, Cousins can step in.
For the Raiders, Cousins offers a top-notch backup option.
Granted, he’s not the same quarterback he once was, but he’s still a better backup option than most quarterbacks the Raiders could sign, including O’Connell.
He also offers a fantastic mentor for Mendoza, who would benefit greatly from having an experienced and previously successful signal-caller to learn from.
