The 2025 season was one that the Las Vegas Raiders would likely prefer to forget. Initially, they seemed poised for success, delivering one of the most unexpected upsets of the year with a 20-13 victory over the New England Patriots. Notably, the Patriots ended their regular season with an impressive 14-3 record and went on to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. However, the Raiders quickly veered off course. Following their season-opening win, they endured a dismal stretch, losing 14 of their subsequent 15 games. They did manage to close the season on a slightly brighter note, narrowly defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 14-12, although the Chiefs were largely fielding their backup players.

Despite the string of defeats, there was a silver lining for the Raiders. Thanks to their poor record, they secured the coveted first overall pick in this month’s NFL Draft. The team is widely anticipated to select Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza from Indiana. However, the Raiders have a strategic plan for Mendoza’s development, which involves mentoring from a seasoned NFL veteran: Kirk Cousins.

In a notable offseason move, the Raiders inked a five-year deal with Cousins, potentially worth up to $172 million. While this figure is substantial, Cousins is unlikely to see the entirety of that amount. The contract includes $20 million in guaranteed money, which is still double what he would have earned had he stayed with the Atlanta Falcons.

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This contract marks the 11th consecutive year that Cousins has secured a fully guaranteed salary, a unique achievement in the NFL. Much of the credit for this accomplishment goes to his agent, Mike McCartney of Vayner Sports.

The deal is advantageous for Cousins even if he plays only one season. He enjoyed several strong campaigns with the Minnesota Vikings and was performing well in the 2023 season before an Achilles injury sidelined him in October. Following his stint with the Falcons, his performance dipped.

In the 2024 season, Cousins shared the league lead with 16 interceptions and, by the middle of the 2025 season, was benched in favor of Michael Penix Jr. Cousins concluded last season with a 61.7% completion rate, amassing 1,721 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions—his least impressive statistics in over ten years.

Now, he gets a fresh start with the Raiders, and all indications are that he’ll be under center when the regular season begins.

It’s a win financially for the Raiders, too. Cousins is still guaranteed $10 million from Atlanta after he signed a four-year, $180 million contract in 2024 (he ultimately will make about $100 million from that deal). The Raiders will pay Cousins $1.3 million, the veteran minimum salary this season, so Atlanta is on the hook for the other $8.7 million. Cousins will then either get another $10 million next March if the team releases him, or the Raiders can keep him around with a two-year, $80 million option.

Cousins is already one of the highest earners in NFL history. He’s made nearly $321.7 million throughout his career; per Spotrac, that’s third-best among all players. While strong play in previous seasons has helped, his earnings are also thanks to creative deals like this that have treated him quite well.