Masterstroke. That’s how Kirk Cousins fans would probably describe his recent signing with the Las Vegas Raiders. Reportedly on a fully guaranteed $20 million contract for 2026 (that could be worth up to $172 million over five years and includes a club option for two years at $80 million), the 4x Pro Bowler is expected to be a veteran presence in the desert to assist Fernando Mendoza. However, his arrival has also reignited a long-standing debate about his value versus his cost. And for good reason.

As the massive financial details of the deal emerge, fans and critics wonder how one player consistently commands this much leverage. Cam Newton was also one of those vocal critics, once again pointing fingers at Cousins, especially given his induction to a list with Super Bowl champs Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers for all the wrong reasons.

“Kirk Cousins just robbed the NFL AGAIN!!” is what the caption clearly said in a tweet by the ‘4th&1 with Cam Newton’ podcast. The content of the video attached? Even more telling.

“Let’s talk about Kirk Cousins’ performance,” Cam Newton said. “Matter of fact, we all know what Kirk Cousins is. Let’s not be a fool. You mean to tell me, Coach [Klint] Kubiak, you wanted to have a bridge quarterback that can help a young player? Last year, Michael Penix Jr. had this to say: ‘I get no support.’ They were teammates. The handwriting was on the wall.”

So, one thing’s clear: Cam Newton doesn’t believe Cousins can be a good mentor, and that worry goes back to what happened with Michael Penix Jr. last year.

“No,” Penix said last November when asked if he had anyone to turn to for advice. “Mentally, my fiancé… she’s always there for me. But as far as physically and on-the-field stuff, there’s not anybody I talk to as far as another quarterback or anything like that.”

While Penix Jr’s answer was said to be taken out of context back then, it still raised eyebrows. More so because Cousins was operating under a massive four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons, including $100 million guaranteed and a $50 million signing bonus, before the sides called it quits after just two seasons.

That said, the former Panthers quarterback also brought up another eyebrow raising fact about the Cousins-Raiders deal: The quarterback has eclipsed even the likes of Brady in finances. Let’s look at the “glaring” math.

As per reports, Kirk Cousins is currently the third-highest-earning player in league history with $341,469,288 in career earnings and zero Super Bowls. On the contrary, with seven Super Bowl wins with two different teams, Tom Brady sits at 4th in the list with $317,619,794 in earnings. The only two quarterbacks ahead of Cousins in that list are Matthew Stafford ($408,000,000) and Aaron Rodgers ($395,812,794). What’s more, the 2026 season will be the 11th straight year where Cousins’ contract will be fully guaranteed.

“My heart is bumping right now,” Newton stated. “If you just give me Tom Brady, Aaron Rogers, Matthew Stafford, that’s some good company to be in. Now, you throw in Kurt Cousins. No matter what the category is, the fact that Kurt Cousins is in that category makes that category a little questionable. What do these quarterbacks have in common? That’s first and foremost.

“Coach Kubiak, I just want you to understand where we are at. And I’m trying to tell you to be exact: that this right here can be a distraction. There’s no way, shape, or form that Kirk Cousins has ever shown that he can help somebody be better.”

This year, the belief is that the team will select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in 2026. He’s the Heisman winner and a national champion, making him the obvious choice for QB1, which means he could learn from Cousins. However, Newton thinks past experiences don’t back up that plan.

So now, all eyes shift to Klint Kubiak. He has to figure out how to balance a high-paid veteran and a potential franchise quarterback while keeping the locker room steady.

Why did Klint Kubiak sign Kirk Cousins?

Kirk Cousins joining the Raiders has changed the quarterback situation in Las Vegas. The team was previously focused on Aidan O’Connell, but now the Silver and Black have more options. This is especially important for Fernando Mendoza, as Raider Nation might not need to push him to play right away. Kubiak talked about finding the right balance at the NFL Annual Meeting.

“I think ideally you don’t want him to start from Day 1,” Kubiak said about starting a rookie QB. “You’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody. That’s in a perfect world. I know, like I said before, it doesn’t always work out that way… I think it does help the player, though, if they can sit behind a mature adult and watch how they run the show.”

While he wasn’t specifically talking about Mendoza, it’s important to consider the bigger picture. Mendoza certainly has the look of a top draft choice with his impressive 6-foot-5, 236-pound build and knack for taking hits. This raises a valid question: If he’s so prepared, why did they decide to sign Cousins?

It all comes down to how well they know each other. Kubiak and Cousins have a long history from their days in Minnesota. Between 2019 and 2021, Cousins racked up 12,089 passing yards, threw 94 touchdowns, and only had 26 interceptions while working in that system. Because of their past together, they already have a solid understanding and trust in how they work.

In the end, the way their playing styles match up is key. Mendoza has mostly played in shotgun and RPO setups and hasn’t spent much time under center, even back in California. Cousins, however, excels in that kind of system. This difference creates a great opportunity for the Raiders to help Mendoza grow as a player. Now, it’s all about seeing how this plan unfolds in Las Vegas.