The Las Vegas Raiders started the season 3-0, and Kirk Cousins looked like one of the best bargains of the offseason. But four straight losses later, many feel it’s only a matter of time before rookie Fernando Mendoza is handed the keys to the offense. It should be noted, however, that Cousins hasn’t been the problem.
The 38-year-old leads the NFL with 16 touchdown passes and has thrown for 1,877 yards with just five interceptions through seven games. However, the Raiders drafted Mendoza No. 1 overall to be their franchise quarterback, and fans have been calling for him to start since last Sunday’s 35-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Head coach Klint Kubiak has stood by Cousins for now, but he made it clear that the Mendoza era is coming.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen named the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants as potential fits for Cousins in their ranking of the top 25 trade-deadline candidates should Vegas move him. There are no glaring needs at quarterback leaguewide, but injuries happen every week. The Raiders have not planned to be overly active at the deadline.” The Giants are the most intriguing fit of the bunch.
New York lost starter Jaxson Dart to a season-ending knee injury in Week 2, yet the Giants are 4-2-1 and sit atop the NFC East heading into their bye week. McCarthy, acquired from the Vikings for a 2027 fifth-round pick, has given the offense a spark since taking over for Jameis Winston. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards in a 27-21 overtime win over the Houston Texans in his first start with the team.
Still, McCarthy is 23 years old with a shaky track record. He finished last among qualifying quarterbacks in completion percentage and touchdown-to-interception ratio during his first season as a starter in Minnesota. If the Giants are serious about a playoff run, having a proven veteran like Cousins behind him wouldn’t be the worst idea.
Cousins would also come cheap for the Giants, who could be investing a lot in their quarterbacks to make it through this season. After reworking his deal, Cousins has just a $1.3 million base salary this season. However, the Raiders aren’t in a rush to move on from the four-time Pro Bowl QB, so it’s possible they could elect to keep Cousins around just in case Mendoza needs more time to develop.
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