The Minnesota Vikings, heading into a potential Super Bowl season, boast one of the youngest and least experienced quarterback rooms in the NFL. With rookie J.J. McCarthy and Pro Bowler Sam Darnold leading the charge, the team is reportedly exploring a blockbuster trade to bolster their quarterback depth, potentially reuniting with a familiar face: Kirk Cousins.
On June 4, ESPN insider Seth Walder proposed a stunning trade scenario in which the Vikings would send backup quarterback Sam Howell and cash considerations to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Cousins, their former starter. Walder suggested that Minnesota could cover $12 million of Cousins’ guaranteed money to facilitate the deal. “This would allow Atlanta to save a little face and get out of the situation with a different backup quarterback,” Walder wrote. “For Minnesota, the upgrade at backup QB is more important because of the McCarthy situation. Cousins will have to accept a lesser role with his old team, but at least he’d be reunited with coach Kevin O’Connell.”
Cousins, now 36, signed a massive $180 million contract with the Falcons in the 2024 offseason, including $100 million guaranteed, despite recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Atlanta paid him a $10 million roster bonus in March, leaving $27.5 million owed for the current year. In 2024, Cousins started 14 games for the Falcons, finishing with a 7-7 record, 3,508 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and a league-leading 16 interceptions. Atlanta benched him late in the season in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr., their No. 8 overall pick from the 2024 draft.
The Vikings, meanwhile, signed Sam Darnold to a one-year deal in 2024, turning him into a Pro Bowl performer, and drafted McCarthy at No. 10 overall. With a young quarterback room and high expectations, adding a veteran like Cousins could provide stability and mentorship, especially given his prior success under head coach Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota.
The proposed trade has sent shockwaves through the NFL, as fans and analysts debate whether Cousins’ experience is worth the $27.5 million price tag and if he’d accept a backup role. As the regular season approaches in early September, all eyes will be on Minnesota to see if they pull the trigger on this bold move to strengthen their quarterback position for a championship run.