Could the Vikings Be Planning a Shocking Trade for Kirk Cousins?

A Reunion in the Making?
The Minnesota Vikings have been actively reshaping their quarterback room, but one intriguing possibility continues to linger—could they bring Kirk Cousins back to where he spent six seasons? While the idea seems far-fetched, rumors are swirling that the Vikings might be waiting for the right moment to strike a deal with the Atlanta Falcons.

Why the Speculation Exists
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons this offseason, but Atlanta’s decision to draft Michael Penix Jr. has suddenly put the veteran quarterback in an awkward position. With Penix expected to be the franchise’s future, Cousins’ role as the team’s starter is no longer guaranteed.

Meanwhile, the Vikings missed out on other veteran quarterback options like Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, leaving them without a proven backup behind rookie J.J. McCarthy. ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently speculated that Minnesota might be waiting until after the draft to make a move for Cousins, securing him as a safety net behind their first-year signal-caller.

The Contract Complication
Any trade scenario involving Cousins is complicated by his contract. The Falcons would face significant dead cap penalties if they traded him, and his $27.5 million salary for 2025 would be a tough pill to swallow for any team, especially the Vikings.

The financial dynamics of a potential deal would depend on how much of that salary Atlanta is willing to cover. If the Falcons eat a large portion of it, they could demand a draft pick in return. If they ask Minnesota to take on most of the contract, they might need to attach a pick to sweeten the deal. Either way, the numbers make a trade challenging.

Would Cousins Even Want to Return?
Perhaps the biggest roadblock is Cousins himself. The veteran quarterback has been vocal about wanting to play somewhere he has a legitimate chance to start. Returning to Minnesota would mean sitting behind McCarthy unless an injury occurred.

With other teams, such as the Cleveland Browns, potentially offering him a clearer path to playing time, Cousins would have to waive his no-trade clause and willingly accept a backup role for a Vikings reunion to happen. Given his competitive nature, that scenario feels unlikely.

A Deal Seems Unlikely—But Anything Can Happen
While the rumors make for an interesting storyline, a Cousins-to-Minnesota trade faces too many logistical and financial hurdles to be considered a likely outcome. The Vikings seem committed to developing McCarthy as their starter, and unless an unexpected injury or dramatic shift occurs, they are unlikely to invest significant assets in bringing Cousins back.

Still, in the unpredictable world of the NFL, nothing can ever be ruled out entirely. If circumstances change, the idea of Cousins wearing purple and gold again might not be as outlandish as it seems today.