The Vikings acquired Cousins from the Raiders on Tuesday in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick, Tom Pelissero of Netflix reports.
Minnesota had rolled to a 6-2 start to the season on the back of an elite defense, but the poor play of Kyler Murray (hamstring) and Carson Wentz under center had been a major concern that may have capped the team's potential of securing a playoff spot and making a deep run. The return of Cousins -- who previously directed the Minnesota offense from 2018 through 2023 -- should give the Vikings a notable upgrade over Murray and Wentz and help prop of the fantasy value of all of the team's key skill-position players. After a disappointing two-year run in Atlanta, Cousins bounced back nicely in Las Vegas to begin the season, completing 64.1 percent of his throws for 2,340 passing yards and a 20:8 TD:INT through nine games. His departure from Las Vegas will clear the way for 2026 No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza to take over as the team's new starting quarterback.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Picked off three times in Week 9 loss
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Cousins completed 22 of 32 passes for 216 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in Sunday's 38-17 loss to the 49ers. He also rushed twice for no gain and scored a rushing touchdown.
Cousins made numerous costly mistakes as the Raiders tried in vain to catch up after falling in an early 14-0 hole. He threw a pick-six on the first play of the second half and capped both of Vegas' fourth-quarter possessions with end-zone interceptions. The 38-year-old Cousins has staved off calls for rookie first overall pick Fernando Mendoza to take over the starting role by producing 21 total TDs through nine starts, including a two-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter and 21-yard touchdown pass to Brock Bowers in the third quarter Sunday. The Raiders have gone 1-5 after a 3-0 start, and the calls for Mendoza could grow louder if Vegas' struggles persist in Week 10 against the Seahawks.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: QBs to Start
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This won't be an easy matchup for Cousins since San Francisco is No. 11 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks and just acquired standout defensive lineman DeForest Buckner via trade from Indianapolis. But Cousins has scored at least 22.5 Fantasy points in six of eight games this season, including three in a row, and he's already excelled in tough matchups against the Chargers (26.2 Fantasy points), Chiefs (26.6) and Rams (24.4). The 49ers also allowed Jayden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr. to each score at least 25 Fantasy points in their past two games, and I still trust Cousins as a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback in all leagues in Week 9.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: QBs to Start
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The Raiders have lost four games in a row, so the fear with Cousins is that if he struggles, then he could get benched for Fernando Mendoza. That said, this is a winnable game for the Raiders at the Jets, and their four losses have come against Kansas City, New England, Buffalo and the Rams. The Jets have allowed three of the past five opposing quarterbacks to score at least 23.4 Fantasy points, including two in a row with Drake Maye and Malik Willis. Cousins has scored at least 22.5 Fantasy points in five of his past six games, and he has top-10 upside in all leagues in this matchup.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Remaining starting quarterback in Week 8
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Head coach Klint Kubiak said that Cousins will remain the Raiders' starting quarterback heading into Sunday's game against the Jets, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN reports. "There is no controversy," Kubiak said. "He is playing at a very high level."
Though the Raiders have dropped four straight games to drop to 3-4 on the season, Kubiak reaffirmed his commitment to Cousins, who has done his part to keep the team competitive amid the losing streak. The veteran signal-caller leads the NFL with 16 touchdown passes and ranks third with 1,877 passing yards, with the Raiders' struggling defense (28.1 points allowed per game) and poor running game (3.0 yards per carry) having been the bigger culprits in the team's recent swoon. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Kubiak said that No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is "going to play at some point," but the rookie looks like he'll have to wait at least one more week before seeing extended action while Cousins has directed a serviceable offense.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Just under 300 passing yards in loss
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Cousins completed 26 of 44 passes for 295 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing three times for six yards in the Raiders' 35-21 loss to the Rams on Sunday.
With the Raiders trailing throughout, Cousins had another very busy day and finished with his third-highest passing yardage total of the season. Cousins also threw multiple touchdown passes for the sixth time in seven games, connecting with Tre Tucker (37 yards) and Ashton Jeanty (15 yards) for fourth-quarter scoring strikes. The veteran signal-caller continues to show excellent command of Klint Kubiak's offense, as he connected with eight different targets in the high-scoring loss. Cousins has compiled 1,877 passing yards and generated a 16:5 TD:INT through his first seven games heading into a Week 8 road matchup against the Jets next Sunday.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Sleeper QBs
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Cousins scored 22.5 Fantasy points in Week 6 against Buffalo and has now scored at least 19.8 points in all but one game this season. This isn't an easy matchup against the Rams, but Los Angeles won't have defensive linemen Poona Ford (triceps) and Kobie Turner (groin) for this game, along with cornerback Trent McDuffie (groin) potentially out. The Rams have allowed three quarterbacks this season to score at least 27.1 Fantasy points -- Brock Purdy in Week 1, Bo Nix in Week 3 and Josh Allen in Week 5 -- and Cousins should have another solid outing in Week 7. He's worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Gives way to Mendoza late in rout
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Cousins completed 19 of 28 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 45-17 loss to the Patriots.
The lopsided result owed much more to the fact that the Raiders defense couldn't stop Drake Maye than it did to Cousins' performance, but it still provided coach Klint Kubiak with an opportunity to give Fernando Mendoza his first snaps in the NFL on the team's final drive. Las Vegas has lost two straight games with Cousins under center after a 3-0 start, and while the veteran QB has a more than respectable 12:4 TD:INT and 65.1 percent completion rate in his five starts, he was always going to be a placeholder until the first overall pick in the 2026 draft was deemed ready to take over. A switch at quarterback may not be imminent, but the clock is ticking on Cousins' tenure as the starter heading into a Week 6 battle with the Bills.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Sleeper QBs
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We'll see if the Patriots can slow down Cousins because he's on fire going into Week 5. He has scored at least 19.8 Fantasy points in all four games, including three in a row with at least 26.2 points. Trevor Lawrence and Josh Allen have each scored at least 20.5 Fantasy points against New England in the past two games, and Cousins is worth using as a low-end starter in deeper leagues. The Patriots are also without top cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez (shoulder) and Carlton Davis III (neck) in this game.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Week 5 Waiver Priority List
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I don't love Cousins' matchup in Week 5 at New England since the Patriots are No. 9 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. That said, Cousins has been awesome so far this season, scoring at least 19.8 Fantasy points in all four games, including three in a row with at least 26.2 points. I would consider him a low-end No. 1 quarterback against New England, and then he gets a great matchup against Buffalo in Week 6 if you're looking ahead. Cousins is worth adding for at least 5 percent of your remaining FAAB.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Throws for 365, two TDs in loss
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Cousins completed 31 of 52 passes for 365 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Chiefs. He also threw a successful two-point conversion.
Cousins opened the scoring with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Ian Thomas in the first quarter, but his next touchdown pass didn't come until 1:46 remained in the fourth quarter, when Cousins connected with Brock Bowers for a 20-yard touchdown and added a two-point conversion to Cody White to cut the Raiders' deficit to three points. Vegas got the ball back, but Cousins was picked off on the game's penultimate play as the Raiders' comeback bid came up short. Despite Sunday's setback, Cousins has led the Raiders to a 3-1 record while posting an 11:4 TD:INT heading into a Week 5 road game against the Patriots.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Week 4 Waiver Priority List
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Cousins has thrown three touchdown passes in all three games this season against Miami, the Chargers and New Orleans, and he scored at least 26.2 Fantasy points in each of his past two outings. Brock Bowers made his 2026 debut in Week 3 against the Saints, and Cousins now has an elite weapon to use in the passing game. It doesn't appear like Fernando Mendoza will start any time soon, and Cousins is worth adding in deeper leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAAB. I don't love his next two games against Kansas City and New England, but Cousins could continue to surprise us like he has on more than one occasion this year.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Tosses three TDs in another Vegas win
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Cousins completed 22 of 33 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday's 35-27 win over the Saints. He added three rushing yards on three carries.
The veteran QB got his first chance to work with Brock Bowers, but it was Michael Mayer and Cody White who were on the other end of Cousins' first two TDs of the afternoon, before he connected with his superstar tight end for a four-yard score in the fourth quarter that provided the game-winning points. Cousins has led the Raiders to a stunning 3-0 record to begin the season, completing 67.4 percent (62-for-92) of his passes for 661 yards with a 9:3 TD:INT, and 2026 first overall pick Fernando Mendoza could be waiting a while before he gets a chance to make his first NFL start. Cousins will face a much tougher test in Week 4 at home against Kansas City.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Expected to be named starter
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Cousins is expected to be named starting quarterback for the Raiders, Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com reports.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak had refused to announce a decision on Las Vegas' Week 1 quarterback throughout the preseason, but Cousins has been listed as the No. 1 QB on the team's depth chart during training camp and the exhibition slate. The veteran signal-caller was also more effective than rookie No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza during preseason play, completing 13 of 17 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions to Mendoza's 25-for-45 line with one TD and two pickoffs. Cousins will thus have the first opportunity to helm the Raiders offense, which features an elite tight end in Brock Bowers but one of the NFL's shallowest wide-receiver corps. Should Cousins and/or the team struggle, Mendoza could eventually be given a chance to start later in the campaign, though it's possible he'll be asked to observe and learn from the bench for his entire rookie season.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Sharp in final tune-up
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Cousins completed eight of 11 passes for 51 yards in the Raiders' 18-12 preseason loss to the 49ers on Thursday.
The Raiders' presumptive starting quarterback to open the 2026 season drew the start and led the Raiders to field goals on each of his two drives. Cousins' longest completion was a relatively modest 14-yard connection with Tre Tucker, and he also hit top target Brock Bowers for the first time in a game setting for a six-yard gain on the opening possession. Cousins was also efficient in his other preseason appearance against the Cardinals two games ago, seemingly leaving him ready to face off with the Dolphins at home in a Week 1 matchup on Sunday, Sept. 13.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Kubiak not yet ready to name starting QB
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Coach Klint Kubiak refused to name Cousins as the Raiders' starting quarterback following Thursday night's preseason game against the Texans, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
All signs continue to point to Cousins being under center for the Raiders in Week 1 against the Dolphins. As Cousins was given the night off with a host of other presumed starters, No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza was in uniform and had a night to forget, as he completed just eight of 15 passes for 86 yards (5.7 YPA), including a pick-six on his first series.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Opening camp as starting QB
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Coach Klint Kubiak confirmed Tuesday that Cousins will open training camp as the Raiders' starting quarterback, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
"When we go out to practice tomorrow, Kirk is the starting quarterback," Kubiak said. "He's the guy, and he deserves it because he's played really good football. But I want Fernando Mendoza and Aidan O'Connell to push him." This has been the Raiders' plan all along after Cousins opened spring practices as the QB1. While Cousins may get the Week 1 nod against the Dolphins on Sept. 13, Mendoza is fully expected to make rookie-year starts. Cousins made eight starts for the Falcons last season and completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions across 10 total regular-season appearances.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Raiders draft QB first overall
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Cousins is set for a quarterback competition with rookie first overall pick Fernando Mendoza and Aidan O'Connell, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
The Raiders drafted Mendoza on Thursday after signing Cousins earlier in April. According to McFadden, the Raiders' top brass would prefer not to thrust a rookie quarterback into action immediately, but GM John Spytek said the best player will start. Cousins' edge in experience gives the veteran signal-caller a viable chance to beat out Mendoza, at least initially, though it wouldn't be surprising to see Mendoza eventually take over the starting job at some point during the 2026 regular season.
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Raiders' Kirk Cousins: Reaches deal with Las Vegas
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Cousins agreed Thursday with the Raiders on a contract, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
After being cut by the Falcons earlier in the offseason, Cousins had drawn interest from several teams who were keen on bringing him aboard as a backup. He ultimately opted to head to Las Vegas, where he'll at least temporarily slot in atop the depth chart. The Raiders are widely expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft later this month, but Cousins -- who is in line to earn $20 million fully guaranteed for playing the 2026 season -- per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, could still emerge as the Week 1 starter if Las Vegas isn't eager to rush Mendoza into action right away to begin his NFL career. During his final season in Atlanta, Cousins made 10 appearances (eight starts) and completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 6.4 yards per attempt and a 10:5 TD:INT.
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Falcons' Kirk Cousins: Expected to be cut by Atlanta
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The Falcons are expected to cut Cousins before the new league year starts in March, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The Falcons worked with Cousins on Tuesday to restructure the veteran quarterback's contract by modifying the final two years of the deal to give Atlanta more cap flexibility and incentivize a release sooner rather than later, as Cousins would be slated to get $67.9 million guaranteed were he to be on the roster at the start of the league year. That leaves the Falcons with questions over who they will add to their quarterback room with Michael Penix (knee), while Cousins contemplates joining a team in 2026, including a reunion with the Vikings, per Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Cousins appeared in 10 regular-season games (eight starts) with Atlanta in 2025, when he completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.
