Kirk Cousins Takes a Subtle Jab at Vikings

Kirk Cousins experienced six productive seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, starting in 2018 with a free-agent contract and ending in 2023 with an Achilles tendon tear. The Las Vegas Raiders now employ him, and Cousins recently revealed that Las Vegas’s OTAs were the most productive he’s ever encountered.

While the comment wasn’t thoroughly insulting, it painted current Vikings skipper Kevin O’Connell in a negative light.

Kubiak Connection Puts Cousins’ Vikings Years Back under the Microscope

Kirk Cousins discusses joining the Raiders during a media session. — Image 1 CSR: Kirk Cousins speaks with reporters after signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, explaining his early fit in Klint Kubiak’s offense during a media session on Apr. 6, 2026, in Henderson, Nevada, while discussing new teammates, including Brock Bowers, and early organizational expectations after joining the franchise three weeks into free agency that spring. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.

Cousins on Raiders OTAs

Cousins chatted with Rich Eisen last week, commenting on OTAs: “I told him after OTAs, ‘Coach, this is probably the most urgent and most productive OTAs I’ve ever been a part of.’ That starts with him as a head coach.”

“He created a sense of urgency from Day One, all the way through the 10-week program, and I thought we got a lot of work done. We’ve got a long ways to go, but we laid a good foundation.”

By implication, the statements made Cousins’s OTAs in Washington, Minnesota, and Atlanta look bad.

Well, What Type of Operations Are the Vikings Running?

It certainly isn’t bad or wrong for Cousins to compliment Kubiak for finely-tuned OTAs. In fact, for Las Vegas’s sake, it’s great.

But one must wonder: what is Kubiak, a first-time head coach and former Vikings offensive coordinator, doing that O’Connell and other coaches from Cousins’ past are not? Is he conducting a more serious schedule? Is it more relaxed and hence more enjoyable?

If anything, Cousins should be confused by Kubiak’s OTAs — they should be inferior to O’Connell’s because it’s Kubiak’s first crack at them. Yet, that isn’t the case. Kubiak already has the special sauce.

Cousins’s Outlook in Las Vegas

The Raiders signed Cousins for one central reason: to patch over rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza when he’s ready. Las Vegas used the first overall pick in the draft on Mendoza from Indiana. No matter what, he’ll be under center before too long.

However, the Raiders want to take the transition slowly. They believe in the benefit of watching and learning, meaning Cousins will probably take the first snaps on offense for Kubiak in September. He could even be the starter for most of 2026. Since Cousins left Minnesota in 2024 free agency, he’s encountered ups and downs, added by the Atlanta Falcons to be their QB1 solution but cast aside six weeks later after the shocking draft selection of Michael Penix Jr.

Klint Kubiak speaks at the NFL Annual League Meeting. — Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak addresses reporters during the NFL’s offseason gathering, discussing his staff, offensive direction, and quarterback plan on Mar. 31, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting as the franchise mapped out his first full season under a new Raiders regime that spring. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

In Las Vegas, Cousins hopes to keep Mendoza on the bench for one season and maybe even author a playoff trip that has eluded him since 2022.

He’ll attempt the feat with a suspect group of playmakers, which include Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers at tight end — and that’s about it. The Raiders have one of the NFL’s worst wide receiving corps, featuring Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, and Tre Tucker. Oofta.

Vikings OTAs Considered a Success in 2026

In Minnesota, OTAs are complete, and all attention has shifted to training camp in four weeks. The Vikings continue to promote and highlight their oft-advertised quarterback battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy, while also providing encouraging injury updates on rookies Caleb Banks and Christian Darrisaw. Both men are trending to be ready for training camp.

New Vikings playmakers also moved the needle, including veteran wideout Jauan Jennings — who is apparently a “dirtbag,” but in a good way, according to Murray — rookie running back Demond Claiborne and wide receiver Dillon Bell.

Las Vegas is expected to win six or seven games this season. Blogging Dirty‘s Jason Kandel spoke lowly of Cousins last weekend, noting, “Don’t let his 5-3 record as a starter in 2025 fool you. The four-time Pro Bowler couldn’t do anything. He was a statue in the pocket, and if the bar was ‘be a better fit for Zac Robinson’s offense than Penix’, that’s not a tough bar to clear.”

“Falcons Cousins was nothing like the guy we saw in Minnesota. And Raiders are primed to learn the same lesson the Falcons did. As a short-term bridge starter he’s okay, but Kubiak has made it clear they wouldn’t mind starting him for most of 2026. He’s a good mentor for Mendoza, but he leaves a lot to be desired as a placeholder given his signs of age.”

Kirk Cousins appears on a Fox Sports Radio set during Super Bowl week. — Kirk Cousins appears on the Ladies of Fox Sports Radio show set during Super Bowl week, fielding questions about his career, future, and veteran quarterback perspective on Feb. 6, 2026, in San Francisco, California, from inside the Super Bowl LX media center at Moscone Center as NFL coverage filled the week. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

Cousins has always been a divisive creature.

Kandel concluded, “While the Raiders have some pieces in place, the fact of the matter is that Kirk Cousins isn’t all that great anymore. He’s slow, turnover-prone, and playing behind a bad offensive line. If an elite Falcons offense couldn’t save him, nothing will. He should embrace being a backup and slowly phase out.”

Cousins will turn 38 in August.