Kirk Cousins, a 14-year NFL quarterback, is joining the Las Vegas Raiders after being released by the Falcons at the start of the new league year. The move comes after he was blindsided by Atlanta's decision to draft Michael Penix No. 8 overall in 2024, shortly after he signed a $180 million contract with the Falcons. He will likely be paired with Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, who the Raiders are projected to pick No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. The decision comes after Atlanta restructured his contract, reducing his 2026 base salary from $35 million to $2.1 million, and he would have been guaranteed $67.9 million in 2027 if he was still rostered by March 13.