Raiders QB Kirk Cousins just made the perfect comparison to a depth player on the roster, and it only helps his value
The Las Vegas Raiders have a very, very good quarterback room, and we can thank Kirk Cousins, Fernando Mendoza, and Aidan O’Connell for that.
The Las Vegas Raiders have built one of the deepest quarterback rooms in the NFL this offseason. They are rostering three signal-callers, each serving a distinct purpose.
Kirk Cousins is the veteran starter, and Fernando Mendoza is the franchise quarterback of the future. Then there is Aidan O’Connell, who might be the best QB3 in the league. Cousins recently drew a fascinating parallel between his own career trajectory and O’Connell’s. He’s suggesting the young quarterback’s best football could still be ahead of him.
Kirk Cousins sees himself in Aidan O’Connell
“I really believe strongly that Aidan’s best football in this league is ahead of him, and if you know my story, you know my fourth year in the league was when everything kind of turned for me,” Cousins told reporters. “And Aidan’s in his fourth year now, and I’ve seen a lot of quarterbacks come through Washington, Minnesota, Atlanta, I’ve observed a lot.
“There were eight guys in my draft class who were all kind of expected to have great careers, so I’ve followed guys for a long time, and there’s a lot about Aidan O’Connell where I say, ‘Why can’t this guy have a long, successful career in this league?’ Like, I’m just seeing all the traits that you have to have to be a great player in this league. So, I think he’s got a bright future and his best football’s ahead of him.”
Cousins used his own fourth NFL season as the reference point. That was the year things started to click for Cousins, when he transitioned from a backup and spot starter into a legitimate franchise-caliber player. He sees a similar inflection point ahead for O’Connell. AOC is set to enter his fourth season in 2026 with 17 career starts under his belt.
O’Connell has shown flashes throughout his time in Las Vegas. He stepped into the lineup multiple times over the past two seasons and held his own. And, even on rosters that lacked offensive talent around him, he did well. The Raiders clearly value what he brings to the room, and Cousins’ endorsement only reinforces the idea that O’Connell has untapped potential.
Here’s where it gets interesting from a roster-building perspective. The Raiders aren’t going to carry three capable quarterbacks forever. Kubiak did keep three with the Seattle Seahawks last season, but that was a very different situation. Mendoza is the long-term answer, Cousins is the bridge, and O’Connell is the insurance policy. That insurance policy, though, holds real value on the trade market.
O’Connell could be a legitimate trade piece for the Raiders at the deadline. A quarterback with 17 NFL starts entering his fourth year fits the profile of what contending teams look for when injuries strike midseason. Vegas would be smart to hold on to him till the deadline rather than deal him before Week 1. Injuries happen across the league. And, a quarterback-needy team in October or November would likely pay a higher price than anyone would in June.
That calculus makes sense for Las Vegas on multiple levels. Cousins provides stability for coach Klint Kubiak’s first season as the head man, Mendoza gets to develop behind a proven veteran, and O’Connell stays ready in case something goes wrong before the trade deadline arrives. If the Raiders make it to midseason healthy at the position, they can flip O’Connell for draft capital and reinvest in the roster around Mendoza. And, Cousins may have just helped improve O’Connell’s stock.