Raiders Willing To Trade QB Kirk Cousins?

With the trade deadline just two days away, NFL Blue Book’s Charles Robinson believes Cousins could be had for a price, and he views a third-rounder as sufficient to entice the Raiders. After all, Mendoza represents the Raiders’ future at the quarterback position, and despite Las Vegas’ 3-0 start to the 2026 campaign, the club is not necessarily in full win-now mode just yet and is still looking to build a foundation for Mendoza.

Naturally, there has been plenty of speculation connecting Cousins to Minnesota, where he earned two of his three career Pro Bowl nods. The Vikings’ 6-1 record is primarily a byproduct of their defense, as Kyler Murray has struggled in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system and is currently considered week-to-week with a hamstring ailment (which The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero says is a Grade 2 strain).

Carson Wentz is set to handle starting QB duties while Murray is out, and Robinson suggests Wentz’s performance in the Vikes’ Monday night contest against the Bills could be dispositive. If Wentz struggles against Buffalo’s generous pass defense, perhaps Minnesota would be more inclined to make a move (either for Cousins or for the Colts’ Daniel Jones). Similarly, the outcome of the Raiders-49ers matchup on Sunday could influence Las Vegas’ plan with respect to Cousins.

The Vikings have insisted they remain high on Murray, but James Palmer of NFL on Prime (video link) says GM Nolan Teasley has worked the phones like a “madman” as the deadline has approached. Minnesota has been heavily involved in the Jonathan Taylor pursuit, and the club has also been connected to tight end help and reinforcements on both the offensive and defensive lines. A quarterback upgrade, therefore, should at least be considered a possibility.

The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones confirms the Vikings could add a running back, guard, defensive tackle, or quarterback by the deadline. Through eight games this season, Cousins has completed 63.6% of his throws for 19 touchdowns against just five interceptions. The 38-year-old currently ranks seventh in traditional QB rating (101.4), while QBR is less bullish, as his 61.9 mark slots him at 16th.