Las Vegas Raiders trade Kirk Cousins to Minnesota in exchange for 3rd round draft pick

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Las Vegas Raiders have traded quarterback Kirk Cousins to Minnesota, setting up his reunion with the Vikings ahead of Tuesday's NFL trade deadline.

In return for Cousins, the Raiders will receive a 2027 third-round draft pick, the club confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.

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In a Tuesday news conference, Raiders general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak indicated the decision to trade Kirk Cousins stemmed from a belief that Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, is ready to take the lead as starting QB.

"This is something he's worked very hard for since the moment he walked into this building," Spytek said about Mendoza. "He put us in a position where we had to make a really hard decision today with his growth as a person, as a teammate, as a leader, as a quarterback."

Kubiak thanked Cousins for his leadership and influence on the Raiders locker room, but emphasized Mendoza is prepared to step into the starting role.

"He's practiced extremely well, and his work habits also allow us to make this trade," Kubiak said. "We feel that he's ready to go and we're excited to have him take the ball for the game here on Sunday."

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Cousins, a veteran NFL quarterback who previously spent six seasons in Minnesota, has played some of the best football of his career in Las Vegas this year, passing for over 2,300 yards and 20 touchdowns in nine starts.

Mendoza sees his first starting action in the NFL after being selected by the Raiders in the draft following a national championship and Heisman-winning season at Indiana University.