Reunion? Vikings Projected To Bring Back Franchise Leader

Vikings, Falcons Linked In Kirk Cousins Trade Rumor

Kirk Cousins has not justified his contract with the Atlanta Falcons, but the former fourth-round pick looked like a top 10-15 quarterback during his time with the Minnesota Vikings. From 2018 to 2022, the Michigan State product completed 67.9% of his passes for 23,265 yards, 171 touchdowns, and 55 interceptions while competing in one of the league’s more consistently competitive divisions.

That version of Cousins may be gone, as the veteran never looked like himself after his 2023 Achilles injury, but he knows how to play in this offense and has an extensive rapport with head coach Kevin O’Connell and superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson. If nothing else, his knowledge of the offense could make him an invaluable resource to a young quarterback like McCarthy.

Of course, there is the chance that the Vikings want to start Kirk Cousins in the back half of the season. McCarthy only played two games in 2025, but he looked awful in both of them and probably didn’t need this long to recover from his ankle injury. While it’s too early to give up on the young passer, it can’t hurt to have a Plan B, especially since the Vikings play in a remarkably competitive NFC North. This team needs another veteran quarterback, but is Kirk Cousins the right choice for them?

Trade Complications

The biggest issue with a potential Kirk Cousins reunion with the Vikings is his contract. The quarterback signed a massive four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons in the 2024 offseason, and while most of the guaranteed money is already given out, the Vikings would still be taking on a decent financial commitment. Chances are, Atlanta would need to eat a sizable portion of the contract to facilitate a trade.

Additionally, Kirk Cousins isn’t good at football anymore. While he was playing some of his best football in 2023, he hasn’t looked the same since suffering his Achilles injury. The 37-year-old had the opportunity to re-establish his value last week, and he fell flat on his face. Filling in for an injured Michael Penix against a bad Miami Dolphins defense, Cousins finished the night completing 21 of his 31 attempts for just 173 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Put simply, nobody will want to trade for Kirk Cousins and his contract when he looks like a shell of himself. If the Vikings want a veteran quarterback, they’d probably be better off trading for Russell Wilson.