Trending Now - Raiders Exploit Contract Loophole, Burden Falcons With Cousins' Pay

WHO:

AP News - Kirk Cousins is expected to help ease the transition of Fernando Mendoza, the top draft pick for the Raiders.

Heavy NFL - Kirk Cousins is the player involved in the contract situation.

NBC Sports - The Raiders and the Falcons are the teams involved in the contract negotiations.

WHAT:

NBC Sports - Cousins was cut by the Atlanta Falcons on March 1st, 2026, before signing with the Raiders.

NBC Sports - The Raiders' contract with Cousins is structured to potentially include a two-year, fully guaranteed option worth $80 million that will kick in if he remains on their roster after March 2028.

NBC Sports - Cousins's contract with the Raiders could max out at five years and $172 million, but it is expected to be a one-year, $20 million investment.

NBC Sports - Cousins's contract includes a fully guaranteed $10 million roster bonus that will be paid on March 3rd, 2027.

NBC Sports - The Raiders will pay Cousins a total of $11.3 million in 2026, which includes a $1.3 million minimum salary and a fully guaranteed $10 million roster bonus for 2027.

NBC Sports - The Falcons will be responsible for 87 percent of Cousins's salary for 2026, amounting to $8.7 million.

NBC Sports - Cousins's market value was estimated at $20 million.

NBC Sports - The deal is structured to allow the Raiders to pay only a fraction of Cousins's market value, with the Falcons covering the majority of his salary for 2026.

NBC Sports - The Raiders added two void years to Cousins's contract, meaning he will be on their books through 2030.

NBC Sports - The full structure of Cousins's contract will eventually be released, indicating that the four years on the back end are considered fluff beyond the $10 million guarantee for 2027.

NBC Sports - A two-year, fully guaranteed option worth $80 million will kick in if Cousins is still on the Raiders' roster after March 2028.

NBC Sports - Cousins's contract includes a two-year, fully guaranteed option worth $80 million that will kick in if he remains on the Raiders' roster after March 2027.

NBC Sports - Cousins will receive a fully guaranteed $10 million roster bonus on March 3rd, 2027.

NBC Sports - Kirk Cousins's contract with the Raiders could max out at five years and $172 million, but it is expected to be a one-year, $20 million investment.

Pro Football Network - Cousins will play his 11th consecutive year on a fully guaranteed contract.

Pro Football Network - Cousins will surpass Tom Brady for second on the NFL career earnings list when he collects his $10 million bonus next year, bringing his total earnings to over $341 million.

NBC Sports - Cousins's contract includes a fully-guaranteed $10 million roster bonus for 2027, which is part of the total $20 million he will receive.

NBC Sports - The Raiders will pay Cousins a total of $11.3 million in 2026, which includes the $1.3 million minimum salary and the $10 million fully-guaranteed roster bonus for 2027.

NBC Sports - The Falcons will be responsible for 87 percent of Cousins's salary for 2026, amounting to $8.7 million.

NBC Sports - Cousins's market value was estimated at $20 million.

NBC Sports - Cousins's contract includes a fully-guaranteed $10 million roster bonus for 2027, which is part of the total $20 million he will receive.

NBC Sports - The Raiders will pay Cousins a total of $11.3 million in 2026, which includes the $1.3 million minimum salary and the $10 million fully-guaranteed roster bonus for 2027.

NBC Sports - The deal is structured to allow the Raiders to pay only a fraction of Cousins's market value, with the Falcons covering the majority of his salary for 2026.

NBC Sports - The Raiders will pay Cousins a total of $11.3 million in 2026, which includes the $1.3 million minimum salary and the $10 million fully-guaranteed roster bonus for 2027.

NBC Sports - The Falcons will be responsible for 87 percent of Cousins's salary for 2026, amounting to $8.7 million.

Heavy NFL - Kirk Cousins signed a deal with the Raiders that exploits a contract loophole.

NBC Sports - The Raiders will pay Cousins $1.3 million in 2026, while the Falcons will pay him $8.7 million.

NBC Sports - Cousins has a fully-guaranteed $10 million roster bonus for 2027.

NBC Sports - Cousins's market value was estimated at $20 million.

WHERE:

NBC Sports - The contract situation involves the Raiders and the Falcons, two NFL teams.

WHEN:

AP News - Cousins's most recent team, the Atlanta Falcons, cut him on March 1st, 2026.

NBC Sports - The contract details pertain to the NFL season in 2026.

WHY:

NBC Sports - The Raiders' strategy allows them to minimize their financial obligation to Cousins while maximizing his compensation through the Falcons.

AP News - Raiders coach Klint Kubiak stated that ideally, rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza should not start from Day One, emphasizing the benefit of learning behind a veteran like Cousins.

NBC Sports - The Raiders' strategy allows them to minimize their financial obligation to Cousins while maximizing his compensation through the Falcons.

NBC Sports - The Raiders found a way to minimize their financial obligation to Cousins while maximizing his compensation through the Falcons.

HOW:

NBC Sports - The Raiders structured Cousins's contract to have the Falcons cover a significant portion of his salary for 2026, effectively making Cousins a bridge quarterback until Fernando Mendoza is ready.

NBC Sports - The Raiders structured Cousins's contract to allow them to pay only a fraction of his market value by having the Falcons cover the majority of his salary for 2026.

NBC Sports - The Raiders added two void years to Cousins's contract, meaning he will be on their books through 2030.

NBC Sports - The Raiders structured Cousins's contract to allow them to pay only a fraction of his market value by having the Falcons cover the majority of his salary.

NBC Sports - The Raiders structured Cousins's contract to have the Falcons cover a significant portion of his salary for 2026.

(UPDATED April 3, 2026 19:14 UTC)

March 1st, the Atlanta Falcons cut quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has since signed with the Raiders under a contract that could potentially max out at five years and $172 million, although it is expected to be a one-year, $20 million deal. The Raiders have structured Cousins's contract to include a fully guaranteed $10 million roster bonus due March 3rdrd, 2027, and a two-year option worth $80 million that kicks in if he remains on the roster after March 20th28. This strategy allows the Raiders to minimize their financial obligation to Cousins while benefiting from the Falcons covering a significant portion of his salary for 2026, positioning Cousins as a bridge quarterback until Fernando Mendoza is ready.

(UPDATED April 3, 2026 17:08 UTC)

The Raiders have signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a deal worth $11.3 million for 2026, which includes a minimum salary of $1.3 million and a fully guaranteed roster bonus of $10 million for 2027. The Falcons will cover 87 percent of Cousins's salary this year, totaling $8.7 million, allowing the Raiders to pay only a fraction of his estimated market value of $20 million. Additionally, the contract includes two void years, extending through 2030, and a fully guaranteed two-year option worth $80 million will activate if Cousins remains on the Raiders' roster after March 20th28.

(UPDATED April 3, 2026 15:10 UTC)

Kirk Cousins is set to assist rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders' top draft pick, as he transitions into the NFL. The Raiders have structured Cousins's contract in a way that allows them to pay only a fraction of his market value, with the Atlanta Falcons covering most of his salary for 2026, and it includes a fully guaranteed option worth $80 million if he stays on the roster after March 20th27. Coach Klint Kubiak emphasized that having Cousins on the team will benefit Mendoza, ideally allowing him to learn from a veteran rather than starting right away.

(UPDATED April 3, 2026 05:29 UTC)

Kirk Cousins has signed a contract with the Raiders that could reach a maximum of five years and $172 million, although it's anticipated to be a one-year deal worth $20 million. This will mark Cousins's 11th consecutive year on a fully guaranteed contract, and he is set to surpass Tom Brady for second place on the NFL's career earnings list when he collects a $10 million bonus next year, bringing his total to over $341 million. The Raiders have also added two void years to Cousins's contract, ensuring he will remain on their books through 2030.

(UPDATED April 3, 2026 03:50 UTC)

In a strategic move, the Raiders have signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a contract that includes a fully-guaranteed $10 million roster bonus for 2027, contributing to a total of $20 million he will receive. For 2026, the Raiders will pay Cousins $11.3 million, which consists of a $1.3 million minimum salary and the aforementioned roster bonus, while the Falcons will cover 87 percent of his salary, totaling $8.7 million. This contract structure positions Cousins as a bridge quarterback, allowing the Raiders to minimize their financial obligation while maximizing his compensation through the Falcons as they prepare for Fernando Mendoza's readiness.

(UPDATED April 3, 2026 01:20 UTC)

The Raiders have signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a deal that includes a fully-guaranteed $10 million roster bonus for 2027, part of a total of $20 million he will receive. In 2026, the Raiders will pay Cousins a total of $11.3 million, which consists of a $1.3 million minimum salary and that $10 million bonus, while the Falcons will cover the majority of his salary for the year. This contract structure allows the Raiders to minimize their financial obligation to Cousins while positioning him as a bridge quarterback until Fernando Mendoza is ready to take over.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 23:08 UTC)

The Raiders have signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a contract worth a total of $11.3 million for 2026, which includes a minimum salary of $1.3 million and a fully-guaranteed roster bonus of $10 million for 2027. The Falcons will cover 87 percent of Cousins's salary for this year, amounting to $8.7 million. This contract structure allows the Raiders to pay only a fraction of Cousins's market value while benefiting from the Falcons covering the majority of his salary.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 21:08 UTC)

Kirk Cousins has signed a new contract with the Raiders that takes advantage of a loophole, allowing the team to minimize its financial obligation while maximizing his compensation from the Falcons. Under this deal, the Raiders will pay Cousins $1.3 million in 2026, while the Falcons will cover $8.7 million, and he also has a fully-guaranteed $10 million roster bonus for 2027. This contract situation highlights the collaboration between the Raiders and the Falcons as they navigate Cousins's market value, which was estimated at $20 million.