The hiring of Antonio Pierce as head coach was the biggest offseason decision made by the Las Vegas Raiders, and
one of his first key decisions as coach will be what to do at quarterback. Aidan O’Connell didn’t perform well enough
to be trusted as the starting quarterback for the upcoming season, and Jimmy Garoppolo will probably be dismissed.
The Raiders may not be able to
select a top rookie because they
will not have a pick until No. 13
in the first round of the 2024
NFL Draft. Thankfully, there
are a few seasoned
professionals on hand. When
asked which NFL quarterback
he would prefer to play with,
star wide receiver Davante
Adams responded in an intriguing way.
This offseason, Cousins’ deal with the Minnesota Vikings expires, making him a free agent. The Vikings might try to
re-sign him, but other clubs should be interested as well. Cousins might be a great stopgap if the Raiders are not
optimistic about their chances of selecting a quarterback in the draft. Even so, the organization may choose to select
a rookie in the draft and have them grow behind the four-time Pro Bowler.
The Raiders may not be overly concerned about Davante Adams’ preference for a quarterback because they already
gave him what he wanted when they signed Antonio Pierce. Kirk Cousins does, however, have a strong resume. In
seven of the previous nine seasons, he has thrown for over 4,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. As a starter, he had a
record of 76-67-2.
The offensive coordinator’s personality will determine whether or not he fits in well with the Raiders. Cousins would
be a fantastic fit if the franchise chooses to select Klint Kubiak, a pupil of Kyle Shanahan, for the position. For a
quarterback like Kirk Cousins, who is excellent in the pocket but doesn’t move much, the Shanahan offensive scheme
is ideal.
Although Kliff Kingsbury has also been connected to the Raiders, a quarterback with a little bit more mobility would
be a better fit for him. The team could likely do worse than Cousins in terms of pure passers.
Kirk Cousins Recovering from a Serious Injury
Regarding Kirk Cousins’ future, his health is the main worry. He will be 36 when the 2023 season begins, having torn
his Achilles tendon. Even if Cousins isn’t a player who is known for using his legs, an Achilles injury should still be
taken seriously by fans.
After suffering a foot injury the previous season, the Raiders awarded Jimmy Garoppolo a large contract, which proved to be disastrous.
The group cannot
afford to keep spending
money on an
unplayable, aging
quarterback. Both the
Raiders’ roster and
head coach are young.
It would make far more
sense to base the team
around a young
quarterback. Although Cousins is just a viable short-term option, he would probably want to join a team that is closer to contending for the
Super Bowl.
