Kirk Cousins joins Raiders, Puka Nacua in rehab amid allegations

Guess what, NFL fans? You’ve made it to Thursday, which means you’re knocking on the door of the weekend — when you can sit back, relax and consume as much Easter candy as you’d like (my personal record is 12 Reese’s eggs in one sitting). As you count down, how about I, Tyler Sullivan, fill you in on the latest comings and goings around the NFL?

After all, it’s been a newsworthy week, especially with the entire league under one roof for the Annual Meeting in Phoenix. We’ve got some nuggets out of the desert, including rule changes that will take effect in 2026. On top of that, the Las Vegas Raiders quarterback room will take center stage after Fernando Mendoza conducted his Pro Day on Wednesday, along with the team bringing in a veteran who could become his mentor.

Before we jump in, consider this your reminder to tell everyone you come in contact with to sign up for the newsletter. Alrighty, let’s get to it in three … two … one …

1. Kirk Cousins signing deal to join Raiders

One of the last major QB dominoes has fallen, as Kirk Cousins agreed to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday morning.

The timing of this deal is interesting, coming just a day after presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza impressed at his Pro Day (more on that below). However, don’t get it twisted — this has zero impact on whether Las Vegas will select Mendoza with the first pick. That remains the prevailing assumption, but Cousins’ arrival could mean we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see Mendoza take the field as QB1 for the Silver and Black.

Speaking at the Annual Meeting earlier this week, new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak somewhat tipped his hand at the possibility of adding a veteran when he noted his preference to let rookie quarterbacks sit before taking over.

Ideally, you don’t want him to start from Day 1. You’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody. That’s in a perfect world. It doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes they have to play from Day 1, and it’s our job as coaches to get them ready to go. I think it does help the player if they can sit behind a mature adult and watch how they run the show.

With Cousins now in-house, Kubiak can accomplish just that, and Cousins should be viewed as an ideal mentor for Mendoza after working with Kubiak for three seasons in Minnesota, giving him a deep understanding of the offense.

2. Puka Nacua checks into rehab facility

Los Angeles Rams wideout Puka Nacua has checked into a rehab facility in Malibu, California. His lawyer, Levi McCathern, said the 24-year-old hopes “to improve his overall behavior in every aspect of his life.”

His lawyer, Levi McCathern, said that the 24-year-old hopes “to improve his overall behavior in every aspect of his life.”

It’s been a rather tumultuous offseason for Nacua, and the news of him entering rehab comes on the heels of a lawsuit alleging he bit a woman and made antisemitic remarks. However, McCathern noted Nacua has been in the rehabilitation center for a “substantial period of time” before these latest allegations surfaced and is expected to remain there “for a while longer.”

Here is the full statement from McCathern obtained by NFL Media:

Puka takes responsibility for his well-being and increasing his performance during the off-season. So, in early March — before any temporary restraining order was filed by Madison Atiabi and subsequently denied by the Court — Puka voluntarily entered a holistic care facility to focus on his personal growth.

He is committed to using this time constructively so that he can return in the best possible position — both personally and professionally — to continue contributing to his team and the game he loves. He will complete the program in plenty of time to be involved in all of the Rams OTAs. Puka is also deeply grateful for the support he has received from his family, friends, coach [Sean] McVay, and teammates.

It is unfortunate that a trivial lawsuit has drawn attention to Puka during a time when he is focused on becoming a better overall person. I am really excited to see what the future holds for this gifted young man.

Nacua, who is in line for what could be a market-setting contract extension this offseason, is expected to be back with the team for organized team activities.

3. Top five NFL Draft storylines to watch: Where will Ty Simpson land?

We’re officially in NFL Draft month as the calendar flips to April. As we gear up for the three-day spectacle, we’re zeroing in on some of the biggest storylines worth monitoring. Our guy Jordan Dajani highlighted the top five angles of this 2026 draft, including where Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson could land.

Could Mendoza be the lone quarterback selected in the first round this year? It depends on who you ask. … The Cardinals at No. 3 overall could use a quarterback, but they surely won’t take Simpson at that spot. The Steelers need a backup plan if Aaron Rodgers retires, but would Pittsburgh use the No. 21 overall pick on Simpson? Maybe the Browns are a team to watch, as they are one of those clubs with multiple first-round picks. Could Cleveland’s No. 24 overall selection be where Simpson goes? 

Speaking of that No. 24 overall pick, that’s where sportsbooks seemingly drew the line. Simpson’s over/under draft position at DraftKings Sportsbook sits at 24.5, with the over heavily juiced at -270 (meaning Vegas views it as more likely than not that Simpson is selected after No. 24 overall).

It feels like the consensus is that a team will trade back into the first round to select Simpson — as the Giants did last draft with Jaxson Dart. DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Cardinals (+125) and Jets (+145) as the top two favorites to select Simpson, with an intriguing sleeper in the Rams at No. 3 (+425).

Among the other storylines Dajani is tracking are the possible floor for Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and which veterans could be moved during the draft. To read his full story, click here.

4. Fernando Mendoza dazzles at Indiana’s Pro Day

NFL evaluators got an up-close look at Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza on Wednesday as the Heisman Trophy winner conducted his Pro Day. Based on the impressions coming out of the session, Mendoza left little doubt about his status as the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders — who had head coach Klint Kubiak and offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko in attendance — later this month.

CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson was in Bloomington, Indiana, for the festivities and came away highly impressed.

For starters, Mendoza looked bigger as he made his way to the east end zone to begin warming up. He weighed 236 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine and played closer to 225, but he looked put together and began fizzing passes to wide receiver Charlie Becker (who I imagine we’ll be talking a lot about during the 2026 season).

And when I say “fizzing passes,” I mean Mendoza was slinging it. It’s the kind of arm talent you don’t fully appreciate on tape — but standing 20 feet away, it’s glaring. The velocity, the ease, the quick release — it’s all real. In fact, his arm talent and trigger are closer to Cam Ward than, say, C.J. Stroud or Jayden Daniels. Throughout the session, his ball placement was consistent — on time, on target, right on the receiver’s face.

With this year’s quarterback class not as deep as in previous years, Wilson compared Mendoza to several former first-round quarterbacks over the last two years. He noted that “there would have been a real discussion about QB1” if Mendoza were in last year’s draft against Cam Ward. Meanwhile, Wilson would have ranked Mendoza as QB4 behind Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye (in some order) had he been in the 2024 class that saw six quarterbacks taken in the first 12 picks.

5. Annual League Meeting fallout: What new rules are coming to the NFL?

Earlier this week, the NFL descended on Phoenix for the Annual League Meeting. There, the league covered a wide array of topics and approved a handful of rule changes that will take effect in 2026.

Of the five agreed-upon changes, two center on officiating as the league prepares for the possibility of replacement referees amid a standstill in negotiations with the NFLPA on a new collective bargaining agreement.

• For one year only, the NFL Officiating department can correct clear and obvious mistakes made by on-field officials that impact the game in the event of a work stoppage involving referees represented by the NFL Referees Association. 
• The league will also allow personnel to consult with on-field officials when considering disqualifications for both flagrant football acts and non-football acts without being called onto the field.

Meanwhile, the three other rule changes centered around special teams. 

• The kicking team can declare an onside kick at any time during the game.
• The league will eliminate the kicking team’s incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50-yard line.
• The NFL will modify kickoff alignment requirements for the receiving team in the setup zone.

On top of these rule changes, NFL owners also approved Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as the host site for Super Bowl LXIII in 2029 and approved the Jacksonville Jaguars to play at Camping World Stadium in Orlando during the 2027 regular season as EverBank Stadium undergoes renovations.

6. Extra points: Seahawks, Patriots announced as future ‘Hard Knocks’ teams

News is always flying across the NFL, so let’s go through some quick-hitters you may have missed over the past few days.