Kirk Cousins has found something in Las Vegas that never really showed up in Atlanta: trust.
That alone makes his new stop feel different. After two seasons with the Falcons, Cousins had already become one of the franchise’s most expensive misfires.
Atlanta handed him a four-year, $180 million deal in 2024, but he ended up making only 22 starts and throwing 21 interceptions. The Falcons moved on this offseason, releasing him after a brief and rocky run that never quite settled in.
Now he’s with the Raiders, and the early signs are much more favorable. Before training camp, Klint Kubiak told the media that Cousins will be the team’s starting quarterback, even with reigning No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza on the roster. Mendoza is coming off a Heisman Trophy-winning season, but the Raiders appear willing to let him open his rookie year on the bench and learn behind a veteran.
That setup matters for Cousins. He signed in Las Vegas after about a month in free agency, and familiarity clearly played a role. Kubiak was his offensive coordinator in Minnesota, and that relationship seems to have given Cousins a level of confidence he never had with Zac Robinson or Raheem Morris in Atlanta.
It also says plenty about how the Raiders view the position right now. Cousins may still fit the profile of a bridge starter at this point in his career, someone who can hold the job while helping a younger quarterback along. But unlike the Falcons, Las Vegas is at least acting like it believes he can still do the job.
That’s the real shift here. Atlanta drafted Michael Penix Jr. just weeks after signing Cousins to that massive contract, so the clock was always ticking. In Las Vegas, the message is different: if Cousins plays well, the Raiders are fine with him starting all season.
And for a quarterback trying to reset his career, that kind of backing can go a long way.
In Other News...
Falcons May Have A Future NFC South Answer At Quarterback
The Falcons are still trying to sort out their long-term quarterback picture, with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. both under the microscope as possible starters. Tagovailoas durability remains a real concern, which is why Atlantas search for a dependable answer at the position keeps stretching beyond the names already in the building.
Baker Mayfield is one of the more intriguing possibilities on the horizon, especially for a team that wants steadier play under center. Atlanta has reason to keep tabs on him as the future unfolds, because the market around him could make him available at a time when the Falcons may be ready to make a move. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Raised The Stakes On Bijan Robinsons Next Deal
The Falcons have been busy locking down the offensive line, and their latest move only adds another layer to the long-term picture around Bijan Robinson. Atlanta is trying to keep its core intact around a young offense, and securing protection up front is part of that plan. For Robinson, who still has two years left on his rookie deal, every major contract the team hands out helps shape the floor for what comes next.
Matthew Bergerons extension also says plenty about how Atlanta values the interior of the line and the players who make the run game work. The Falcons have already shown they are willing to invest heavily in the trench, which is why Robinsons next deal now feels like a much bigger conversation than it did a week ago. The timing does not force an answer yet, but it certainly raises the price of waiting. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Camp Suddenly Has One Issue Fans Can't Ignore
The Falcons fourth day of 2026 training camp drew a full crowd, and there was plenty on the field for fans to watch. Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa took part in position drills, while the rest of the roster kept pushing through a busy session filled with competition for jobs, special teams work from punter Jake Bailey and cornerback Cobee Bryant, and a defense that kept showing up around the ball.
What fans could not ignore, though, was the situation with Bijan Robinson. The running back remained away from full participation while waiting on a new contract, adding a different kind of tension to a camp that otherwise had a steady practice buzz. On the field, Brandon Dorlus and DaShawn Hand helped keep the defensive pressure up with their own standout moments, but Robinsons status is the issue hovering over everything as camp continues. [Read more 🡒]