Jon Gruden, the former Las Vegas Raiders head coach, took to social media Thursday to celebrate Kirk Cousins’ decision to sign with the team, reuniting the veteran quarterback with a franchise Gruden led from 2018 to 2021. The move gives the Raiders the experienced starter they needed heading into what projects as a franchise-altering draft.
Jon Gruden Reacted to Kirk Cousins Joining the Raiders
Gruden, who remains a popular figure among Raiders fans despite his controversial departure, didn’t hold back his enthusiasm.
“Kirk in the Silver and Black!” Gruden wrote on X, “Two of my favorites joining forces! Let’s GO!”
The signing brings Cousins to Las Vegas on a deal that includes $20 million in fully guaranteed money. The structure is unique: Atlanta will pay $8.7 million of his salary this season while the Raiders contribute just $1.3 million.
Kirk in the Silver and Black!!
Two of my favorites joining forces! Let’s GO! https://t.co/LCoeh9gWVB
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) April 2, 2026
Las Vegas also agreed to a fully guaranteed $10 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2027 league year, with a club option for two additional years at $80 million. The contract marks the 11th consecutive season Cousins will play on a fully guaranteed deal.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, who served as Cousins’ quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator in Minnesota from 2019 to 2021, made clear this week that he wanted a veteran presence in the room. Las Vegas holds the first overall pick and is expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza later this month.
“Ideally, you don’t want him to start day one. You’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody,” Kubiak said at the Annual League Meeting. “I think it does help the player, though, if they can sit behind a mature adult and watch how they run the show.”
How Fernando Mendoza Will Benefit From Cousins’ Signing
Cousins’ arrival creates a scenario similar to Kansas City’s handling of Patrick Mahomes in 2017. Smith started 15 games that season while Mahomes watched and learned. The following year, when Mahomes took over, he won MVP.
The Raiders aren’t committed to a full-season redshirt for Mendoza. If the Heisman winner excels in practice and Cousins struggles, Las Vegas could accelerate the transition. But the infrastructure now exists to be patient.
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Cousins, 37, brings valuable experience after two turbulent years in Atlanta. The Falcons signed him to a four-year, $180 million deal in 2024, then drafted Michael Penix Jr. six weeks later. Cousins led Atlanta to a 6-3 start before an arm injury derailed his season and eventually cost him the starting job.
He returned healthy in 2025 as Penix’s backup, then took over when Penix tore his ACL in Week 11. Cousins finished strong, posting a 5-3 record as a starter with 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
According to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, Cousins finished last season as the 30th-ranked quarterback in the league with an impact score of 71.1. The familiarity with Kubiak’s system gives the veteran an immediate advantage, as he knows the terminology, timing, and expectations.
That continuity should accelerate Mendoza’s development, even from the sidelines. Learning an NFL offense is hard enough without having to learn a new language.
