Raiders’ decision to trade Kirk Cousins draws praise, surprise from around NFL

The highlight of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline was the Las Vegas Raiders parting ways with quarterback Kirk Cousins.

The Raiders sent the four-time Pro Bowler to the Minnesota Vikings, where he previously spent six seasons from 2018-23. In return, they received a third-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

The move has paved the way for the No. 1 overall pick in 2026, Fernando Mendoza, to make his first career start for the Raiders on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

Through nine regular-season games with the Raiders, Cousins totaled 2,340 passing yards, ranking among the NFL’s top five quarterbacks, and 20 touchdown passes, second behind only Joe Burrow (23).

The Raiders’ move has generated plenty of reaction, including praise from former New England Patriots tight end and Pro Football Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski. Appearing on the Kay Adams Show, Gronkowski said the trade benefits both teams.

“No, I didn’t call the Kirk Cousins trade. Actually, it caught me by surprise, but let me tell you, it totally makes sense all across the board,” Gronkowski said. “I mean, you’ve got to give it to John Spytek, their general manager. I mean, that was one of the best usages of a quarterback in NFL history. There’s no doubt about that.

“He signed Kirk Cousins to a deal, kind of a cheap deal, and got the most out of him. I mean, he’s having a heck of a year, and then boom, trades him, gets value from him. A third-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings. It couldn’t have been a better fit for the Minnesota Vikings either.”

Gronkowski brought up a major aspect of the trade: Cousins contract.

At first glance, the originally reported five-year, $172 million deal for the Raiders’ new starting quarterback sparked conversation. However, the contract effectively functioned as a one-year deal, with $11.3 million guaranteed and club options worth $80 million per season in 2027 and 2028.

Following the trade with Minnesota, the Raiders also transferred those club options to the Vikings and will move forward with a quarterback depth chart featuring Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell.

The trade also caught the attention of Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur, whose team is set to face the Vikings on Sunday.

“I was surprised they didn’t get more for him, quite honestly,” LaFleur said. “I was shocked when I saw what they traded him for. It was mind-blowing to me.”

LaFleur also expects Cousins to start immediately, pointing to his familiarity with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and the team’s offensive system.

“Yeah, (Cousins) will be out there,” LaFleur said. “He’ll be starting. I’m fairly confident of that.

“Obviously he’s got familiarity with their system. Even if he didn’t, he’s a really intelligent guy, and I think he’s been playing at a high level.”

Former Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who was traded to the New York Giants earlier this season, also expressed surprise at the news but said he believes Cousins will be a good fit back in Minnesota.

“I did not hear that, no,” McCarthy said when asked if he had heard about the trade. “Kirk Cousins is going back? I wish him nothing but the best of luck. I know he’s loved in that building, so he’ll be a great fit.”

While the long-term implications of the trade remain to be seen, the move has drawn positive reactions from those familiar with both organizations, with Cousins now set to continue his season in a familiar setting.

Following the trade, Cousins expressed gratitude for his time in Las Vegas and the welcome he received from the organization and its fans.

“To the fans in Vegas, I just feel so grateful for how they welcomed me with open arms for the several months I was here. That includes teammates, the organization,” Cousins said. “I really couldn’t speak more highly of my time here in Vegas.”

Contact Donovan Hicks at [email protected]. Follow @HicksSports on X.