Kirk Cousins Earning Early Praise from Brock Bowers

Raiders TE Brock Bowers is excited to share a locker room with Kirk Cousins and believes the veteran signal caller will be a great influence on the players.

Kirk Cousins Earning Early Praise from Brock Bowers

Kirk Cousins and Brock Bowers inside the circle (Image via IMAGO)

In Short
  • Kirk Cousins signed a cut-price deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, enhancing the team's prospects for rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
  • Brock Bowers praised Cousins as a positive influence in the locker room, noting his presence is beneficial for team dynamics.
  • Cousins aims to achieve 100 career wins with the Raiders, needing 12 victories in the upcoming season to reach this milestone.

In less than a week, the Las Vegas Raiders are likely to make Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick, barring a surprise. Still, the Raiders signed Kirk Cousins on a cut-price deal, a 70-30 arrangement. Cousins already seems like the ideal fit for the Raiders and certainly for Mendoza’s growth as a franchise quarterback.

It doesn’t hurt that Cousins already knows head coach Klint Kubiak. Both spent time together in Minnesota a few years before going their separate ways. Kubiak won the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, and Cousins took a two-year detour to Atlanta.

Fans are optimistic about this reunion, which could change the Raiders’ fortunes. And not just the fans, players appear to have bought into the idea that Cousins is proving to be a positive influence in the locker room. For example, Brock Bowers, whom Cousins believes is the best tight end in the NFL, told Sam Warren of The Athletic that the Pro Bowl signal call’s addition has been a welcoming move.

It’s definitely helpful to have that presence.

Brock Bowers said

However, the Georgia alum refrained from talking too much about Mendoza. He did reach out to some friends and teammates of Mendoza at the University of California, Berkeley (Mendoza’s first UNI) and found out that he’s an “awesome dude.”

Everything you see on TV is real. So I’m excited to get to know him a bit, hopefully.

Bowers said

While Cousins is open to a QB battle, it’s best for players like Bowers, Tre Tucker, and Ashton Jeanty that Cousins starts from day one. This will allow Kubiak time to drill his playbook into Mendoza’s mind. Bowers hinted that Kubiak’s methods are “overwhelming” compared to those of previous coaches.

The Raiders drafted Bowers 13th overall in 2024. During his first year of professional football, Bowers shattered the rookie reception (112) and receiving yards (1194) records for a tight end. Many expected him to take a giant leap in his second year, but injuries limited him to just 12 appearances (8 starts). He racked up 64 catches for 680 yards and 7 touchdowns. So far, he has accumulated 176 receptions, 1874 yards, 12 touchdowns, and two Pro Bowl nods.

What did Kirk Cousins say after signing with the Raiders?

Cousins is a 14-year veteran of the game. He is also one of the league’s top earners (from collective salary checks), surpassing the likes of future Hall of Famers Tom Brady and Russell Wilson.

Kirk Cousins Earning Early Praise from Brock Bowers
Kirk Cousins (Image via IMAGO)

There’s one area where he lags behind both of them. He needs a Super Bowl ring to distance himself from the rest of the crowd, and the Raiders could provide him with the opportunity to finally get his hands on a ring.

After signing the new contract with the Raiders, Cousins described going through and reliving the same emotions he had experienced on his first day of college at Michigan State.

I remember having that feeling at Michigan State as a freshman… I had that feeling today. It’s a beautiful place to live, a beautiful place to be, and it’s a great opportunity.

Cousins said via Nick Walters

Cousins can cross 100 career wins if he delivers 12 victories in 2026. That will depend on how he operates the Raiders’ offense.

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