Raiderstation

I don't love this. I get it, but I don't love it.

SI graded this out as a C+/B-

It matters that it is next year. We have 55 million in dead money coming off the books for next year.

Also if Mendoza is ready before trade deadline we can trade Cousins for a 5th round pick to a qb needy team and ultimately get him to mentor Mendoza and a pick for nothing.

In one sense it's not ideal and in another I'm okay with it. Ten million in cap next year is not throw away change. However, Kirk is a vet with a lot of experience. He knows the scheme and he gives a buffer to allowing Fernando to develop while also giving him competition.

A lot of this scenario requires inference. Will Kirk be a good mentor? Obviously Kirk knows what he's getting into. They apparently talked with Fernando about it last night at dinner.

Will Kirk take camp reps away from Fernando with the 1's? We don't know who will get the majority of 1st team reps through the off-season camps. I like that Fernando has competition as I think it breeds better greatness.

I dislike the money. However, if you told me the Raiders were signing Kirk Cousins a week ago I would have assumed it would have been for more $ than they did. In that regard I cannot complain. If Kirk gets some starts & plays well, but Fernando proves ready and takes over? Some hard up team could offer a good pick for Kirk. Or perhaps Fernando beats him out and claims the starter role outright. & with that Fernando has a viable mentor and the team has a solid backup. Many scenarios. All in all, I can't be upset when I see the contract. Not ideal but not terrible if it has the desired affect. I'm giving Kirk the benefit of the doubt in that he'll be a solid mentor for Fernando

Attyla wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 11:07 am SI graded this out as a C+/B-

SI?...f[raiders_icon]ck their take on the Cousins deal...when does the swimsuit edition come out?

DanKD wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 11:12 am It matters that it is next year. We have 55 million in dead money coming off the books for next year.

Also if Mendoza is ready before trade deadline we can trade Cousins for a 5th round pick to a qb needy team and ultimately get him to mentor Mendoza and a pick for nothing.

i think a team would go higher then (5th) that if they lost their starter and was a contender...cousin at that price is a good deal for us either way

raidersince63 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 11:20 am SI?...f[raiders_icon]ck their take on the Cousins deal...when does the swimsuit edition come out?

even the swimsuit edition stinks

I guess you have to trust Klint. I am not a fan of Cousins and I would have thought there would be better options. The money paid indicates that Cousin's # will be called if Mendoza is a no go. Does Cousins still want to play down the road and is trying to use this to continue in that path? I would have thought that he would use this towards the coaching path. Regardless, I hope he NEVER takes a snap for us. I think we have done (or will do assuming our OL is not a finished product) enough to put Mendoza in the fire if need be. This kid is talented and smart enough to get it done. Also, the window is so short for these kids that is better to know what you have as quick as possible.

Rich, I know for certain Frank Reich use to put the pads on as a coach and there were others as well (that is who I know at the top of my head). I did not realize that the NFL changed the ruling (coaches becoming players) so teams could not circumvent the cap. There were several veteran QB's who were hired as mentors and knew they were not going to play (in fact some did not dress). Josh McCown comes to mind. I thought some of them did not even take a roster spot (but in fact they did).

With quality starters getting 30-60 million a year, Cousins contract is cheap.

Did I mention if you cut AOC, because we have Cousins, its another 3.6 million off the deal in a way.

Attyla wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 11:07 am SI graded this out as a C+/B-

I would grade it an A, we arent spending much and it filled a position of need.

Contract details aside, not sure why people have a problem with this.

This is the move. The best options for real veterans to have available for Mendoza were Cousins, Carr, Flacco.

Cousins is a legit vet but also extremely expendable, so he's not going to get in Mendoza's way. The Raiders have made the right move yet again, I'm shocked because it's been a string of excellent moves since hiring Kubiak.

Attyla wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 10:57 am Relax slick, as far as the team is concerned, we have an untried coaching staff. Trust is earned not given. We have gone through coaches like crazy since his royal Dufus has taken over. I ain't giving carte blanche trust to this team until they prove something

Me relax, lol, that is funny! You're the one crying and complaining like it is your team and money. Going post to post "proving" you're point of view and trying to make yourself right.
While you have a good point in the trust is earned, it does at the very least seem for the first time in a very long time, there is a set plan and they are attacking their plan. You, myself and others, may not like it but they are in charge and executing their plan.
Hell, maybe you have enough money to buy Davis out yourself and make yourself the GM!

Coach dd 11 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 11:46 am Me relax, lol, that is funny! You're the one crying and complaining like it is your team and money. Going post to post "proving" you're point of view and trying to make yourself right.
While you have a good point in the trust is earned, it does at the very least seem for the first time in a very long time, there is a set plan and they are attacking their plan. You, myself and others, may not like it but they are in charge and executing their plan.
Hell, maybe you have enough money to buy Davis out yourself and make yourself the GM!

show me where I used caps lock one. Relax slick.

This talk of just outright cutting Aidan O is silly imo. Coaches are very egotistical & competitive. They see the Raiders dumpster fire of the last how many years + what good tape Aidan does have + cheap contract & I guarantee the Raiders could swing a trade for him. It may not be a whole lot but it would be compensation

Attyla wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 11:47 am show me where I used caps lock one. Relax slick.

Ok, again...good point, big deal! It is an emphatic expression and I'm one of a loud personality.

Yet, I'm not going thread to thread whining and complaining about something I have no control over, nor does the decision affect my daily life. Thanks Mr. Know It All

Goodtimes333 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 11:53 am This talk of just outright cutting Aidan O is silly imo. Coaches are very egotistical & competitive. They see the Raiders dumpster fire of the last how many years + what good tape Aidan does have + cheap contract & I guarantee the Raiders could swing a trade for him. It may not be a whole lot but it would be compensation

Lol did you just say Aidan and good tape? Ohh Jesus.