Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has been rumored to be on the move all offseason. He is the current backup for the Falcons after Michael Penix took over and played well as the starter during his rookie season.
Cousins still seems to have some in the tank, at least in the belief of other NFL teams. Multiple quarterback-needy teams have been reported as interested in the veteran QB throughout the offseason.
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Those rumors seem to be ramping up, especially for one interesting team. The Minnesota Vikings have been one of the teams seemingly interested in bringing in a veteran quarterback, with last year’s first-round pick J.J. McCarthy’s health being uncertain as of now.
Cousins would be a fascinating option to bring in given his history with the franchise. He played six seasons with the team from 2018-2023, and was a catalyst for the development of Justin Jefferson, one of the best receivers in the NFL, who was drafted by the Vikings back in 2020.
According to recent rumors, Jefferson is one of multiple players in the Vikings locker room who want Cousins to return to the team, rather than the team pursue a different veteran like Aaron Rodgers.
Both quarterbacks are near the end of their careers and are clearly on the decline, but Cousins has the familiarity with other players and the coaching staff that Rodgers doesn’t have.
Also, Cousins is much more well-known for being a great culture guy, and would be far less likely to cause a ruckus if the team decided it needed to bring in McCarthy to push along his development.
Cousins may not be quite as interested in a Vikings reunion, because it wouldn’t be all that different of a situation as with the Falcons, but a reunion with his old team could also be enticing.
The Vikings are also a much better team on paper than the Falcons. The team went 14-3 with Sam Darnold at quarterback, and Cousins believers likely think he is a better quarterback than Darnold.
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It is also possible the Vikings would agree with that sentiment, given they let Darnold go in free agency to the Seattle Seahawks.
While, as of now, the Cousins to Vikings idea is just a rumor, it does make a lot of sense for both sides. The real question would be how the Vikings would acquire Cousins, whether via trade and paying a large chunk of his contract, or picking him up upon his release from the Falcons.
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