Kirk Cousins has more than a fan in Rich Gannon.
The four-time Pro Bowler, two-time First-Team All-Pro and 2002 NFL MVP also sees a certain plan in place when it comes to Cousins signing with his old team. Even if there is some Silver and Black nebulousness regarding Cousins' role with the Raiders after the upcoming draft.
After all, the Raiders hold the No. 1 pick and are expected to select a guy who plays the same position. A guy who just won the Heisman Trophy and the National Championship.
"What I would advise him is that he needs to come in there and compete Day 1," Gannon told me of Cousins on the most recent episode of Upon Further Review. "Don't worry about who gets drafted, when they get drafted, what the quarterback room [looks like] - my job is to be prepared, and I'm going to compete.
"By competing, you're going to make everyone in that room better. If we're so fortunate to be able to get Fernando Mendoza in the draft, which I think we will, I want there to be competition, right?"
If we've learned anything over this raucous offseason for the Raiders, it's that nothing is official until it's official.
And yet…
Gannon sees Kirko Chainz mentoring Heismandoza a fait accompli, of sorts.
Even as Cousins seemingly had options in free agency, places he could go where there was an immediate opening for a starter and also did NOT have the No. 1 pick.
And yet, again…
Cousins said he had to trust his "gut" in gambling on Las Vegas and a rookie coach in Klint Kubiak, with whom he spent time in Minnesota from 2019-21.
"Who knows," Cousins said with a smile this week in his introductory media conference. "Maybe my gut was wrong. But I've got to go with my gut, and my gut said that this is where I needed to be."
It was that same feeling Gannon experienced in Oakland in 1999.
After dinner at a Mexican restaurant on his free-agent visit, Gannon and Jon Gruden, in the second year of his first tenure as a head coach, retreated to the Raiders facility with a six-pack of beer and broke down film until the wee hours.
It. Just. Felt. Right.
Like it does for Cousins and first-time head coach Kubiak.
"A lot of people don't know this, but [Kirk] has spent a good portion of the last couple offseasons traveling to Tampa on his own dime and spending some time with my former coach Jon Gruden," Gannon said. "And he's put a lot of time in to get better at his craft and he's at the facility, he's learning this new offense. He's a guy that's going to be totally committed."
And for now, that should be enough. There will be plenty more bridges to cross after the draft.
Still, that brings us back to Gannon's vision of the coming Raiders QB room.
"In terms of what the spring and summer looks like, I would imagine that Mendoza is going to get just about all the reps," Gannon said. "We want to get him as many reps as possible. Why? Because Kirk Cousins doesn't need a lot of reps in May, June and July. He doesn't. So we want to get the young rookie up to speed and we want to give him as many reps as possible.
"And then at that point, when we get into the preseason, we can decide, 'OK, this kid's ready to play.' Or, 'You know what, maybe he's not ready to play Week 1. Let's go with the veteran and let's find a way to eventually work him into the lineup.'"
In other words, Gannon said, there's no timetable…yet.
"I've heard a lot of Raider fans, 'Who's going to start Week 1?'" Gannon said. "Who cares? It doesn't matter right now. We'll get to that. Let's get as many good players as we can on the football team, starting with that quarterback room.
"We've already got Kirk Cousins. That's a big get. Now if we can get the pick we want in the draft, now all of a sudden, we start to feel like that room is starting to come together and now let's let them compete and let's see where the chips fall. But I think it's a great situation for Klint Kubiak and the staff to be in when you start having some depth and talent."
Especially in an AFC West with Patrick Mahomes coached up by Andy Reid in Kansas City, Bo Nix with Sean Payton in Denver and Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers.
"If you don't have a flamethrower in this business, this is a bad business to be in," Gannon said. "And now we're starting to really, I think, build, really build, and address that quarterback room, and I'm excited."
Nothing nebulous about that vibe.
The Las Vegas Raiders arrive for the 2026 voluntary offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders guard/center Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebackers coach Ronell Williams arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight ends coach Luke Steckel arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive line coach Rick Dennison arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safeties coach Matt Robinson arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders assistant head coach Mike McCoy arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders senior defensive assistant Al Holcomb arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive quality control Pete Collins arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Treven Ma'ae (68) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive quality control coach Cody Grimm arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Layden Robinson (64) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Cody Lindenberg (55) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Brenden Rice (82) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders assistant offensive line coach Ben Wilkerson arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
A flag outside of Intermountain Health Performance Center during the first day of the offseason program.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Caleb Rogers (76) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dareke Young (81) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders General Manager John Spytek arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn (11) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders guard McClendon Curtis (63) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech (18) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle JJ Pegues (92) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Chigozie Anusiem (29) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Jahfari Harvey (91) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Kwity Paye (95) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Laki Tasi (79) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Joe Woods arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) and center/guard Jordan Meredith (61) arrive for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Carter Runyon (46) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Matt Gay (14) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders center Will Putnam (67) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Greedy Vance (22) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Dalton Wagner (78) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darien Porter (26) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Segun Olubi (50) and running back Chris Collier (33) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Justin Shorter (88) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Alex Ward (47) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes (5) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Decamerion Richardson (25) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Atonio Mafi (56) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders center Tyler Linderbaum (65) and defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) arrive for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99), center Tyler Linderbaum (65) and fullback Connor Heyward (34) arrive for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Joshua Miles (77) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Charles Grant (60) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tristin McCollum (27) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (86) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Dylan Laube (23) and linebacker Jamin Davis (48) arrive for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Phillip Dorsett II (13) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (4) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Brodric Martin (93) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Quay Walker (7) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (10) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) arrives for the team's first day of the offseason program at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
