Getty Kirk Cousins with Maxx Crosby.
The Las Vegas Raiders could be a potential landing spot for quarterback Kirk Cousins next offseason if his time with the Atlanta Falcons is shorter than expected, according to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell.
Even though the Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal in March, they pulled the biggest surprise of the draft when they selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick, leading to speculation that Cousins and the Falcons could part ways after only one year.
“The other potential landing spots appear to be with the Raiders, Steelers and Titans, none of whom have a settled quarterback of the future,” Barnwell wrote in a May 8 column. “The Giants, Jets, Saints, Seahawks and even the Dolphins could also be in the market for a veteran starter. If Cousins plays well in 2024 and both he and the Falcons want to split, there will be a market for him next year. Next time around, Cousins might just want to try to get his new organization to promise it won’t draft a quarterback immediately after acquiring him.”
The Raiders didn’t draft a quarterback with one of their eight picks and could need one if either Garnder Minshew or Aidan O’Connell doesn’t make a major leap in 2024.
Would Kirk Cousins Want Out of Atlanta After Just 1 Season?
Cousins is going to put on a brave face this season, but according to ESPN, he was not thrilled that Atlanta used such a valuable pick to draft his likely successor after signing him to a multi-year deal.
“Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney, told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that the Falcons did not tell the quarterback they would pick Penix until the team was on the clock,” Marc Raimondi wrote in an April 25 column. “McCartney said there is frustration and confusion coming from Cousins’ camp because Atlanta did not use its first-round pick to make the team better in 2024.”
Already 24 years old and possessing what The 33rd Team wrote was “a deep ball that might be the best in his class,” Penix seems an unlikely candidate to back up Cousins for four years, even if Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said after the draft that was a possibility.
According to ESPN, Penix said the two “exchanged pleasantries” on May 10 at the Falcons’ minicamp.
“He said he was happy to see me and have me here, and I just told him I can’t wait to work with him,” Penix said, according to ESPN.
From @NFLTotalAccess: #Falcons QB Kirk Cousins has passed every medical test as the on-field work begins.
Would Kirk Cousins Fit With Las Vegas Raiders?
Cousins will be 37 when the 2025 season starts and it remains to be seen how he’ll play coming off a torn Achilles. For the Raiders, it wouldn’t make much sense to add the quarterback. It will likely take a trade to add him and he’s got a huge contract.
The Raiders would likely prefer to stay young at the position. Cousins was a free agent this offseason and the team didn’t appear to have any interest in him. That’s unlikely to change once he’s a year older.
It’s not clear whether the Raiders planned to take Penix with the No. 13 pick in the draft.