Kirk Cousins' $172 Million Raiders Deal and The Playoff Flop Nobody Can Ignore

Alright, 12s, can we talk about some of the absolute head-scratchers happening across the NFL right now? It's early in the regular season, but the buzz about certain players already has me shaking my head harder than a missed pass interference call. We're talking about guys who, despite putting up some numbers, just haven't delivered when it really matters. And yet, the league keeps throwing money at them like they're the next GOAT. Case in point: Kirk Cousins just landed a monster deal with the Raiders. Seriously?

The Quarterback Who Piles Up Stats But Can't Win Big

Look, Kirk Cousins has put up incredible regular season stats throughout his time in the league, you can't deny that. But let's get real, fans, the dude has consistently lacked postseason success. He's got a measly 1-3 record as a starter in the playoffs! Think about that. One win. Just one! That sole playoff victory came back in the 2019-20 season with the Minnesota Vikings, where they scraped by the New Orleans Saints 26-20 in overtime in the Wildcard Round. What happened next? They got absolutely rolled by the San Francisco 49ers, 27-10, in the Divisional Round. It’s like he turns into a completely different player when the lights are brightest. And it’s not just the playoffs, right? Cousins has been notoriously inconsistent in primetime games and has failed to deliver when it mattered the most. We saw it with the Atlanta Falcons during the 2024 season, where he went a flat 7-7 as a starter, throwing 18 touchdowns against 16 interceptions. Those numbers aren't exactly screaming "franchise savior," are they? Yet, somehow, the Las Vegas Raiders just handed him a massive five-year, $172 million deal with $20 million guaranteed. He's likely going to be their starter in the upcoming 2026 season, while first-round pick Fernando Mendoza watches from the sidelines. It just makes you wonder if some teams ever learn from history.

The "WR1" Who Disappeared in Crucial Moments

Then there's Amari Cooper, a player we just saw retire on September 4, 2025, after 10 seasons. Throughout his career, he was constantly viewed as a WR1, especially with the then-Oakland Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys. He even made five Pro Bowls. But if you watched, you know he was incredibly inconsistent and just wasn't known for dominating the passing attack. How many truly consistent 1,000-yard seasons did he actually have? Cooper was infamous for disappearing in big moments that could have been game-changers, and yeah, he notoriously dropped passes. He was even overvalued in trades, with many questioning whether he was a top-tier alpha receiver when he moved to the Cowboys. Even when he hit free agency, the red flags were waving, with many labeling him an overrated option, his name always exceeding his actual performance value. In his final season, playing for both the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills, he was a shell of his former self, catching only 44 receptions for 547 yards and scoring four touchdowns across both teams. It's a prime example of how hype can outrun actual production. It’s a new regular season, and we're looking at teams across the league trying to find their identity. These examples of players who put up big numbers but consistently fall short when it truly counts, especially in the postseason, should be a stark lesson. Every snap in the NFL matters, and consistent, clutch play is what separates contenders from the rest. Let's hope our Hawks are always chasing that top-tier, reliable talent, not just the guys with flashy stats.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.