Best options for Kirk Cousins in 2026: Why a return to Vikings makes sense

Kirk Cousins will once again be a free agent.

On Saturday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the Atlanta Falcons plan to release the 14-year veteran quarterback before Mar. 11, the official start of the 2026 league year.

The move gives Cousins the option "to choose where or if he wants to play in 2026," Schefter wrote.

What are the four-time Pro Bowler's options heading into the offseason?  Below, we examine six possibilities for Cousins in 2026.

Minnesota Vikings

After spending six seasons as the Vikings' starting quarterback from 2018-23, Minnesota is once again Cousins' best playing option for 2026. He put the turnover bug that plagued his 2024 behind him, ending 2025 with a 1.9 percent interception rate, his fifth-lowest mark in 14 seasons.

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggled in his first season leading the first-team offense, finishing the year 140-of-243 (57.6 percent) for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 10 starts. While we have enough recent examples to suggest quarterbacks deserve more patience than organizations give them, Minnesota can't afford to waste another season on developing the 2024 first-rounder. If McCarthy can't get it done, Cousins might be the most realistic upgrade.

New York Jets

The Jets have an even worse quarterback situation than the Vikings. The Justin Fields experiment flopped, and New York can split his $22 million dead cap hit by designating him a post-June 1 release, saving $10 million against the 2026 cap. But the Jets are also nowhere near close to competing for a playoff spot. Is being the starter of a losing team, spending a cold December playing meaningless football, really that appealing to Cousins? If so, we can't doubt his love for the game.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers should be one of Cousins' top choices, but would they want him? If Pittsburgh goes the aging veteran route, it seems more likely that it would be Aaron Rodgers, who started for the team in 2025 and has a history with Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, his head coach for 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers (2006-18).

But if Rodgers retires to spend time with his very real wife, Cousins could be in play as another temporary hire until the Steelers find a long-term replacement.

Miami Dolphins

It's unclear what the Dolphins plan to do with Tua Tagovailoa, who already has $54M guaranteed for 2026. Financially, the best path would be a trade, but without much of a market, that's unrealistic. Per Spotrac, Miami would lose 2026 cap space regardless of when it releases Tagovailoa. It might be best to rip the Band-Aid and start fresh after making changes at general manager and head coach earlier this offseason.

Cousins could likely sign for more money elsewhere, but after finessing $331.6M guaranteed out of previous employers over the course of his previous contracts, maybe this time he'll accept a lesser offer. He'd be a stable first option for offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, promoted from senior pass game coordinator by head coach Jeff Hafley. The former Houston Texans offensive coordinator (2023-24) has one year of overlapping history with Cousins, with Slowik serving as a defensive assistant for Washington in 2013, Cousins's rookie season. 

Las Vegas Raiders

This would be interesting. The Raiders are widely expected to select 2025 Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall in April's NFL Draft, but there could be an argument for sitting rather than starting him immediately. Cousins would be a great one-year rental in that scenario. One of his best seasons came in 2021, when Cousins threw for 4,221 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions with Klint Kubiak as his offensive coordinator. The Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator is slated to accept the Raiders head coach opening after Super Bowl LX, and the successful prior partnership might give Las Vegas something to consider as it determines how best to develop Mendoza.

Retirement/Studio analyst

"TV is expected to be an option for Cousins, as is retirement," Schefter wrote. 

Turning 38 in August, it could be the right time for Cousins to hang up the cleats. He's accomplished a lot for a former fourth-round pick. According to Stathead research, since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, only future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, selected in the sixth round (No. 199 overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft, has more quarterback starts as a fourth-round pick or later.

Few expected Cousins to have the career he's had. There'd be no shame in this being the end.