4-time Pro Bowl quarterback signs with Broncos’ division rival

Another quarterback is off the free agency market. Former Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins signed a five-year, $172 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday. The news was first announced by Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney.

While the deal itself sounds massive for the 37-year-old gunslinger, the contract will essentially be a one-year, $20 million guaranteed contract for Cousins. He fills an immediate void for Las Vegas prior to the NFL draft in late April, where it is widely expected the Raiders will take Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall selection.

Cousins will reunite with his former Vikings offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who was announced as the Raiders' head coach after the Super Bowl. It could also mean that Cousins will begin the 2026 season as the starter for Las Vegas. At the NFL's annual league meeting in Arizona earlier this week, Kubiak mentioned he wouldn't want a rookie quarterback to start Week 1; he would rather them watch and learn as they grow accustomed to NFL speed.

"Ideally, you don't want (Mendoza) to start from Day 1," Kubiak said, via NFL. com . "You'd love him to be able to learn behind somebody.