Rams Free Agent Target Kirk Cousins Signs With Raiders

The Los Angeles Rams — and specifically head coach Sean McVay — were not shy about their recruitment of veteran free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins. McVay has ensured that starter Matthew Stafford has a quality backup ever since his injury-riddled Super Bowl defense in 2022.

Cousins was a coveted backup league-wide after being released by the Atlanta Falcons. However, he won’t be taking his talents to L.A. Instead, he signed a lucrative contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, via Adam Schefter of ESPN:

Comp update: Kirk Cousins will sign a five-year, $172 million deal with the Raiders that in reality is a one-year, fully-guaranteed $20 million deal that also contains a club option for two years at $80M.

The Falcons will pay Cousins $8.7 million this season, the Raiders another… pic.twitter.com/MHYqOOfBs7

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 2, 2026

Between the Raiders and Falcons, Cousins is getting $20 million guaranteed to be the eventual backup behind future No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. He also could start if the Raiders choose to have Mendoza learn on the bench for a bit. That’s a hard deal to pass up for Cousins, who has been one of the most well-paid quarterbacks of his generation.

Of course, in choosing the Raiders over the Rams, he likely is giving up a chance at winning or being in Super Bowl contention. But that may not be the priority for Cousins at this stage in his career, when the alternative is to make $20 million guaranteed as a backup or as a mentor to a young possible star in Mendoza.

Rams Sean McVay sees Matthew Stafford playing beyond 2026

One potential benefit for any quarterback the Rams add in 2026 is the possibility that this is Stafford’s final season in the NFL, meaning a highly-coveted starting position could open up in 2027.

McVay even admitted that the franchise is already starting to think about life after Stafford. However, that day may not come as soon as people think, as there is a chance that Stafford wants to play for the Rams beyond 2026.

It’s all likely going to be year to year for Stafford moving forward, meaning they won’t know about 2027 until the 2026 season has come and gone, similar to the final years of Aaron Donald’s career.

But it makes what L.A. does at backup quarterback all the more intriguing, as that could be a signal of their plans for the future of the position after Stafford decides to call it a career.