NFL may change contract rule following Kirk Cousins-Las Vegas Raiders deal
The NFL may be headed toward the 2026 NFL Draft, but teams are still finalizing deals from free agency. Several teams made big splashes with their cap space this offseason. Among them, the Las Vegas Raiders stayed especially busy.
After significant speculation, they reunited quarterback Kirk Cousins with Klint Kubiak—his former offensive coordinator. However, the biggest story may be the contract itself. At first glance, Cousins appears to have secured another major payday.
MORE: Who has the most cap space ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft? Reports, however, indicate the deal is essentially a one-year contract with a club option. The Raiders also used a little-known loophole to load Cousins up with more money, even if he stays for just one season.
Feb 6, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Kirk Cousins on the Opening Drive show at the SiriusXM NFL radio set at the Super Bowl LX media center at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images According to reports, the loophole allows the Raiders to pay Cousins $20 million. However, they only need to pay $11.
3 million this season, while the Atlanta Falcons remain responsible for the difference. The loophole has already drawn criticism, with multiple reporters indicating the NFL may move to close it. Albert Breer has voiced that the league is expected to take a deeper look.