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Kirk Cousins’ $20M Deal for 2026 Propels QB Ahead of Tom Brady in Major Category

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zahid Rashid | Last updated Apr 2, 2026 1:23 PM ET

Four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins has found a new home, agreeing to a five-year, $172 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. In reality, the contract functions more like a one-year, fully guaranteed $20 million deal, with a club option that could extend it for two additional years, for a total of $80 million.

While the Raiders are expected to draft Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, the 37-year-old Cousins is projected to begin the season as the starter and mentor the rookie before eventually handing over the reins. It would mark Cousins’ fourth team in his 15th NFL season, and he is set to surpass NFL legend and Raiders minority owner Tom Brady in career earnings.

Over the past 14 seasons, Cousins has earned a staggering $321.7 million in NFL contracts. With an additional $20 million set for this season, he will surpass Brady’s $332.9 million, moving into second place on the all-time earnings list, trailing only Matthew Stafford, whose projected total sits at $448.3 million at the end of the 2026 season.

When accounting for the $20M fully guaranteed money Kirk Cousins will now make, he will soon pass Tom Brady for the second-most money made by a player in NFL history.

The man is a first ballot Hall of Famer in the business of the NFL https://t.co/eNdja9b5yf
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 2, 2026

Cousins last played for the Atlanta Falcons after signing a four-year, $180 million deal in 2024. However, his stint fell short of expectations, as he posted a 12–10 record while throwing for 5,229 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions across two seasons.

He was released last month, with Atlanta absorbing a $35 million dead cap hit, spread across 2026 ($22.5 million) and 2027 ($12.5 million) following a post-June 1 designation, officially ending a disappointing tenure.

Kirk Cousins warms up before a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Atlanta could have recouped up to $10 million in offsets from Cousins’ deal with Las Vegas, but will receive just $1.3 million after he agreed to a veteran minimum salary for 2026.

"The Falcons will pay Cousins $8.7 million this season, the Raiders another $1.3 million and Las Vegas also agreed to pay its new QB a fully-guaranteed $10 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2027 new league year," ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.

Cousins’ contract structure is typical of a bridge quarterback, but the Raiders appear prepared to hand him the starting job in Week 1, even if they draft Mendoza.

“Ideally, you don’t want him [Mendoza] to start from Day One,” Kubiak said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings. “You’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody. That’s in a perfect world. It doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes they have to play from Day One and it’s our job as coaches to get them ready to go. I think it does help the player if they can sit behind a mature adult and watch how they run the show.”

Kubiak, who worked with Cousins for three seasons on the Minnesota Vikings, described exactly the role the veteran is expected to play. With 167 career starts and multiple postseason appearances, Cousins brings the experience needed to guide a young quarterback while still contributing on the field.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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