Kirk Cousins went from taking his time to doing a deal

Earlier this week, Kirk Cousins was supposedly taking his time . Just like that, he's doing a deal with the Raiders. He had options, obviously.

The Rams were interested in him as the backup to Matthew Stafford, if Jimmy Garoppolo doesn't return. The Packers were interested, too . His decision to sign with the Raiders means that no clear-cut starting opportunity was available.

The Cardinals apparently never came calling. The Steelers could have been a possibility, if Aaron Rodgers doesn't play in 2026. But the Raiders wanted a veteran.

Coach Klint Kubiak said so on Tuesday. And Cousins becomes the bridge quarterback, turning his $10 million guarantee for 2026 into $20 million, when factoring in next year's $10 million guaranteed roster bonus. Cousins also may have had an offer from CBS.