A year ago, Kirk Cousins found himself navigating uncharted waters, adjusting to life with the Atlanta Falcons after six seasons as the signal-caller for the Minnesota Vikings. Fast forward to today, where Cousins has slipped to the No. 2 spot on the Falcons’ quarterback depth chart and is now eyeing potential new beginnings with another team before the kickoff of the 2025 season. There’s even a whisper of a chance that he might head back to his old stomping grounds in Minnesota, but as it stands, no firm decisions about Cousins’s future seem likely until after the NFL Draft at the end of April.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Cousins is playing the waiting game, opting to see how the draft shakes out before entertaining any trade talk. This makes sense for teams as well, giving them the freedom to evaluate fresh talent like Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart without the shadow of a Cousins deal looming overhead.
There’s some chatter that Cousins wouldn’t oppose ironing out a trade deal before the draft, provided the acquiring team avoids picking a quarterback in the first round. But, as always, there’s the devil in the details—money and compensation would need to be sorted upfront, and with the draft months away, who knows what moves could still be made?
The notion of the Minnesota Vikings bringing Cousins back into the fold does spark intrigue, though it might be more trouble than it’s worth. Sure, by the time the draft’s dust settles, they could be on the hunt for a reliable No. 2 option, and Cousins would fit the bill. However, the potential circus his return could ignite might just be a headache the Vikings would do well to steer clear of.
Consider this: What if Cousins rejoins as the backup, and J.J. McCarthy gets off to a rocky start as the new starter?
You bet Minnesota’s passionate fanbase would have a field day, flooding social media and radio shows with calls to reinstate Cousins as QB1. The man hasn’t been out of Minnesota long enough for every fan to forget his impact—both positive and contentious—during his Vikings tenure.
There’s always a portion of the crowd pining for a comeback if McCarthy falters, a scenario the Vikings should wisely sidestep to prevent any mid-season melodramas.
Ultimately, Cousins is a quarterback who’s been around the block, and he’s not in a rush. He’s set on seeing how teams’ draft selections and strategies unfold, which not only benefits him but also the franchises eyeing new talent. Until then, Cousins, Minnesota, and Falcons fans will just have to stay tuned.
