The Las Vegas Raiders are signing quarterback Kirk Cousins in what appears to be preparation to draft QB Fernando Mendoza with the first pick in this year’s draft.
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the deal could be worth up to $172 million over five years.
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Schefter explained that only the first year is guaranteed with $20 million and a club option for two years at $80 million.
The move comes just weeks before the NFL draft, where the Raiders are expected to take Mendoza with the top pick.
“Ideally, you don’t want him to start day one,” head coach Klint Kubiak said Tuesday at the annual league meeting. “You’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody. That’s in a perfect world. It doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes they have to play from day one, and it’s our job as a coach to get them ready to go.”
For the Atlanta Falcons last season, Cousins threw for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions with a 61.7% completion rate.
Now it appeared likely that he’ll be the Raiders’ starting quarterback to open next season while he mentors Mendoza.
James Parker contributed to this story.
