Raiders Sign Cousins, Groom Mendoza for Super Bowl Run

0:00It's April 7th, from breaking news to Sunday matchups. This is NFL News Today, powered by AI. The Las Vegas Raiders just made it official on Monday, signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to bolster their lineup. They're eyeing the number one overall draft pick on Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman winner, with Cousins stepping in as the bridge guy until the rookies ready to roll. New head coach Clint Kubiak made it clear before the deal. He doesn't want to throw a rookie into the fire on day one. This setup lets Mendoza sit back, soak up knowledge, and develop without the pressure right away. Cousins brings serious experience at 37 years old, with 167 starts over 14 seasons across Washington, Minnesota, and Atlanta. He's thrown for 44,700 yards, 298 touchdowns, and 131 picks since being a 4th round pick back in 2012. Financially, it's a smart move for the Raiders. They're only on the hook for $1.3 million this year, while the Falcons cover $8.7 million

1:05in 2026. This gives Las Vegas a steady hand at the helm while building for the future, keeping their eyes on that Super Bowl run.