There’s a new sheriff in town for the Las Vegas Raiders. While fans wait for the Fernando Mendoza shoe to drop on the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft, Tom Brady, John Spytek and the Raiders front office shored up the quarterback room by signing Kirk Cousins on Thursday.

It’s a logical move, but the contract given to Cousins has fans riled up. The details of the deal have spilled out, and at first glance, many were taken aback. Cousins signed a five-year, $172 million deal that had some calling the contract “diabolical” and “ridiculous“. Fortunately for the Raiders, that isn’t the full story once you read between the lines.

Kirk Cousins’ massive five-year contract is practically a one-year deal for $20 million

Cousins’ contract is hefty, but it’s essentially just a one-year deal. The Raiders can decline the two-year option next offseason and Cousins will be off the books without any additional drama. Plus, the final two years are set to be voided. Still, it’s a lot of money – on paper – for a player who was expected to be a backup quarterback.

Cousins’ base salary would make him the second-highest paid backup QB in the league, behind only Justin Fields with the Kansas City Chiefs. Given that injuries can strike at any moment, having a capable backup like Cousins, especially with a rookie by his side, makes plenty of sense. The Raiders also only have to pay $1.3 million of his $10 million base salary, with the Atlanta Falcons picking up the rest in 2026.

That said, it does appear to be trending towards Cousins being the initial starter in Las Vegas. Head coach Klint Kubiak has already mentioned that he would prefer for a rookie quarterback to sit behind a veteran in a “perfect world”. With Cousins on the roster, perhaps that ideal world is upon us.