Tom Pelissero: Kirk Cousins Could Become Prime Trade Target if QB Injuries Hit
The short version
- Kirk Cousins has led the Raiders to a 2-0 start with 413 passing yards and six total touchdowns
- Tom Pelissero says Cousins' contract has a March window for the Raiders to cut, trade, or extend him
- Las Vegas drafted Fernando Mendoza first overall and views him as its franchise quarterback
- Pelissero suggested a third-round pick could be tempting if a contender loses its QB
The NFL insider says the Raiders' veteran quarterback is playing well and could make sense for a team that loses its starter.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero has pointed to Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins as a name to watch on the trade market this season. Speaking on "The Ringer," Pelissero addressed which passers could become available to teams that lose their starting quarterbacks to injury, and Cousins stood out as the most intriguing possibility.
Cousins has opened the season in strong form. He has guided the Raiders to a 2-0 record, including a Week 2 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, throwing for 413 yards and six total touchdowns across the two games while completing 67.8 percent of his attempts.
According to Pelissero, the quarterback's contract situation is what makes a potential deal so plausible. Cousins is essentially playing on a one-year arrangement, but it includes a provision giving the Raiders an exclusive window next March to release him, trade him, or pick up his option. That flexibility could shape the franchise's decision-making all season.
For now, Pelissero expects Las Vegas to stay the course. He believes the Raiders will continue starting Cousins as long as the team remains in contention and his performance holds up, but he noted that a compelling offer could alter the calculus — using a third-round pick as a hypothetical example of what might get a deal done if a rival suddenly needed an affordable, experienced starter.
The situation is complicated by the Raiders' long-term plans at the position. Las Vegas selected Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in April's draft and considers him its quarterback of the future, which could eventually prompt the team to move Cousins and turn the offense over to the rookie.
There is a counterargument, though. The Raiders may prefer to let Mendoza develop on the bench behind a proven veteran rather than rush him into the lineup. That apprentice model has succeeded elsewhere in recent years, with the Kansas City Chiefs letting Patrick Mahomes sit behind Alex Smith and the Green Bay Packers taking a similar path with Jordan Love.
Cousins' performance so far gives Las Vegas little incentive to make a change. He ranks 13th in PFN's QB Impact Score with a 77.7 grade through the first two weeks of the season.
If the Raiders keep winning, the choice between cashing in on Cousins while his value is high or keeping him as Mendoza's mentor becomes more difficult. For now, the veteran remains under center for a team off to an unbeaten start.
The Raiders visit the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, September 27 at 4:25 PM EDT at Caesars Superdome. The game airs on CBS.
