Vikings named possible landing spot for veteran QB Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins’ time with the Atlanta Falcons is officially over, as the organization released the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback on Wednesday. 

While the 37-year-old may not have a ton of suitors on this year’s free agent market, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer believes that a reunion with the Minnesota Vikings could be on the table.

“Cousins, as I’ve heard it, would rather not have his new team just grab him for the minimum, mostly because he knows (particularly after what he just went through) how quickly teams can flip the script on quarterbacks—and how a team’s investment in a player can dictate that,” Breer wrote.

“His guarantee is also much smaller ($10 million) than those of the other guys, so the chance he exceeds the number is greater. Minnesota and Indy (Indianapolis Colts) would be on his list as well—we’ll see if those teams would reciprocate the interest.”

Before joining the Falcons in 2024, Cousins spent six seasons with the Vikings as the franchise’s starting quarterback. The Vikings reached the postseason twice under Cousins’ leadership, finishing with a 1-2 playoff record in Minnesota (the franchise defeated the New Orleans Saints in the 2019 Wild Card round before losing in the following round, and were defeated by the New York Giants in the 2022 Wild Card round). 

All things considered, the Michigan State product’s tenure with the Vikings was relatively successful. Still, the Vikings decided it was time to move on from Cousins during the 2024 offseason, prompting him to sign a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons. 

Cousins’ stint with Atlanta wasn’t as notable, as the 6-foot-3 signal caller didn’t provide the Falcons with the kind of production they hoped for. Cousins finished with 5,229 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 21 picks in two lackluster seasons.

That said, signing a respected veteran like Cousins, who could help mentor J.J. McCarthy and fill in when needed, wouldn’t be the worst decision the franchise has ever made. 

It’ll be interesting to see if Cousins soon generates free agency interest from the Vikings. 

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