The Oakland Raiders have managed to secure Kirk Cousins' $8.7 million in 2026 pay for the $1.3 million minimum in that year and stick the Falcons with the remaining balance. Unlike his $10 million guarantee, Cousins's market value was $20 million. The Raiders managed to get him for the money he was owed by bumping some of the guarantee into the next year. The Falcons, who also signed Cousins, will be paying 87 percent of Cousins' salary for 2026 and will be contributing 87 percent. The full structure of the deal is expected to be released later, although it is likely to include a trigger trigger that will put Cousins back on the market early in the next league year.