Kirk Cousins is heading west. The former Falcons quarterback has joined the Las Vegas Raiders, a team that had plenty of questions at the quarterback position. While many predicted Fernando Mendoza to be the team’s long-term option, there were clues that the team would be interested in using a veteran quarterback to start the year.

Those expectations picked up steam on Thursday when the news broke. Cousins didn’t waste any time sending a message to Raiders fans. To some, however, the message was less than straightforward.

“The Autumn Wind…” he posted.

The Thursday post was a reference to the Raiders’ anthem. Adopted in 1974, the musical score is central to fans in Las Vegas. Of course, not every NFL fan is aware that the Raiders have a theme song, but Cousins’ reference was his way of proving that he has already done his homework with the organization. He will need to do much more if he wants to hold off presumptive No. 1 pick Mendoza.

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Kirk Cousins’ new $172 million deal reunites QB with former coach

One of the biggest selling points for Kirk Cousins joining the Raiders was the prospect of joining a coach he was already familiar with, who helped him succeed in Minnesota. Cousins played for Klint Kubiak from 2019 through the 2021 season. During this time, Kubiak was the team’s quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.

It will be the first time in five years that the two have shared the same team, however, and much has changed. Kubiak is now a Super Bowl champion and a head coach, while Cousins’ status as a franchise has been diminished into somewhere between a bridge quarterback and a backup.

Of course, if the Raiders somehow shock the NFL and don’t pick Fernando Mendoza or another quarterback, Cousins would then be in line to be the team’s unchallenged starter.

However, with Mendoza coming off a Pro Day in which he did what he needed after declining to throw at the combine late February and early March, the choice appears even clearer for the Raiders.

However, the compensation for Kirk Cousins gives the team options, according to Adam Schefter in a Thursday report.

“Comp update: Kirk Cousins will sign a five-year, $172 million deal with the Raiders that in reality is a one-year, fully-guaranteed $20 million deal that also contains a club option for two years at $80M,” Schefter posted.

“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.”

While the potential of the deal is notable, it appears that the deal’s true nature is a short-term solution with window dressing. The deal points to a short-term solution, which suggests he will be the bridge quarterback with the ability to keep playing at the team’s discretion.