While Las Vegas Raiders rookies are getting adjusted to life in the NFL, the team’s veteran signal-caller, Kirk Cousins, is adjusting to living in the city. Cousins has moved around in his career, starting in Washington, then Minnesota, and then Atlanta.
As a result, he has experience in adjusting to a new city in his career. However, it’s a process that takes time, and until OTAs and mandatory minicamps get going, Cousins is taking the opportunity to familiarize himself with the city.
“I’m loving it,” Cousins told Taylor Rocha on May 12 during the Vegas Golden Knights playoff game against the Anaheim Ducks. “I’m getting to know people around town [and] I’m taking Ubers around town to get around, so it’s been fun. Great fan base.
“It’s a sports town now, and a lot of entertainment. We’re hoping to bring some entertainment with the Raiders. Some do [recognize me], some don’t. I try to just blend in. I walked around Caesars Palace Mall the other day and tried to blend in as best I could.”
Raiders Looking to Give Vegas Something to Cheer About
Last season with the Atlanta Falcons, the 37-year-old showed that he can still play at a high level. Cousins received a 76.0 overall PFF grade, throwing for 1,721 yards and 10 touchdowns against five interceptions across 289 dropbacks. Moreover, he recorded nine big-time throws and five turnover-worthy plays for Atlanta.
Nonetheless, Cousins went a little into detail about Vegas as a sports town, given that he’s been around other major cities in the country.
“Well, you know, fans love a winner, and the football’s got to get right,” Cousins added. “We’ve got to win, and I believe that if we do that, the pride and tradition of the Raiders will take care of itself, and the city will get behind us. I think they’re dying to cheer for us. We’ve got to give them something to cheer about.”
It’s been a challenging few years for the Raiders since their move to Las Vegas, and it will be interesting to see if this rebuild brings plenty for the city to cheer about with the team.
Kirk Cousins Receives Clear Message on Starting QB Outlook
While there’s a chance rookie quarterback and No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza beats out Cousins for the starting job, CBS Sports NFL analyst Nate Burleson doesn’t see that scenario playing out as OTAs and mandatory minicamp approach.
“I think Kirk’s going to have to fumble that opportunity away,” Burleson said in a May 5 video posted by Sports Illustrated. “[Mendoza is] not going to beat out Kirk Cousins right now. Kirk is still a veteran quarterback, and if you look at the money they paid him, he’s going there to play quarterback. You don’t pay a guy that much just to teach a young buck how to throw the ball.”
If Cousins is the Raiders’ starter to start the 2026 NFL season, it will be a little more challenging for him to blend in with the locals and not get pointed out as the starting QB for the Silver and Black.
Raiders’ Kirk Cousins Doesn’t Hold Back on Adjusting to Las Vegas