Kirk Cousins is locked in as the Las Vegas Raiders' starter, while No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is expected to spend his rookie year learning from the sidelines. But as the spotlight shifts beyond this season, one NFL analyst has sounded the alarm over what could be the final chapter of Cousins' career.

The Athletic recently dropped its take on the players with the most on the line this season for every team, and for the Las Vegas Raiders, it singled out veteran Kirk Cousins.

“The 37-year-old should hope that transition is amicable for the sake of his career. Cousins’ two years with the Falcons weren’t the tidiest, and if inconsistent play follows him to Las Vegas, his 15th season could be his last chance to contribute,” wrote The Athletic NFL insider Sam Warren.

Elaborating on his analysis in the same The Athletic report, Sam Warren expressed that while the Raiders have a clear short- and long-term plan for their quarterback room, Kirk Cousins will certainly start this season, but the same can't be said for next year.

Across 24 games over two seasons with Atlanta, Cousins threw for 5,229 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions. He also went 12-10 as a starter across 22 starts.

Respectable but not enough for a top QB. While the number game is concerning, Mendoza has shown immense promise since arriving in Las Vegas, as per BroBible.

He skipped a White House visit following a national championship win to avoid missing the rookie camp, and he expressed frustration over missing practice for the NFL's annual rookie symposium.

With every passing day, Kirk Cousins faces increasing competition from Fernando Mendoza as he looks to retain the starting job. That said, how will Cousins' time with the Raiders be?

Will Kirk Cousins be able to establish his legacy with the Raiders?

Entering his 15th NFL season, he has recorded 44,700 passing yards and 298 touchdown passes. As Jared Feinberg of Sports Illustrated noted, he has "never been an upper-echelon signal-caller," but his reliability has always made him a desirable option.

Many within the league believe Kirk Cousins will open the season as the Raiders' starting quarterback, but the same can't be said about next year with Fernando Mendoza on the roster.

That's why leaving a legacy in Las Vegas is what Cousins wants. Feinberg believes Cousins' talent lies in managing the game better than anyone else, which is where his true value emerges.

“What Cousins is and has always been is a sound game manager who works within the confines of the offense while possessing great processing skills to work the field and attack all portions,” wrote Feinberg on July 4.

The analyst expressed that, over time, his athleticism has declined and injuries have marred his career, but he could still serve as a guiding light for the Raiders' rookies.

“While Cousins won't be a true mentor to the rookie, his knowledge of the game and what he's seen gives Mendoza an upper hand in development,” wrote Feinberg.

As training camp approaches, many questions will be answered in Raiders camp. With that in mind, what are your thoughts on Kirk Cousins' career?

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Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore