Despite the Minnesota Vikings having spent a first round draft pick on J.J. McCarthy during the last NFL Draft cycle, quarterback remains a talking point for the franchise. Kevin O’Connell has not yet identified a backup, and plenty of options remain. Kirk Cousins isn’t at the top of the list, but he’s not thrilled in Atlanta either.
While it’s Aaron Rodgers that continues to be the notable veteran name to be floated, Cousins was the talk of the town last year. He spurned the Vikings for another sizable payday and went to the Atlanta Falcons. Of course that worked out horribly, and after a 7-7 record through 14 games, he got benched.
Now he’s sitting behind a young talent in the form of Michael Penix Jr. and he’s not happy about it. Something certainly has to give in that situation, and time is ticking.
Former Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins an expected no-show
The Kirk Cousins experience started off poorly in Week 1 for the Atlanta Falcons. He went just 16-of-26 for 155 yards with a pair of picks and a touchdown. It really didn’t see much positive from there. It’s clear the veteran would now like to explore other opportunities, and head coach Raheem Morris isn’t clueless about that.
Of course OTAs (organized team activities) are voluntary, and Cousins isn’t happy in his current situation. The Falcons are now Penix’s team, and he will be the one leading the charge. They became Penix’s team almost immediately after Cousins inked his contract.
It’s crazy how much difference a year can make. Around this time last season Cousins was still riding the high of a shiny new deal and a big Kohl’s Cash chain. While he went just 4-4 after an achilles injury during his final season with Minnesota, the Vikings went 13-4 and Cousins was a Pro Bowler the year prior.
Despite spending a boatload on the veteran quarterback, Atlanta used their first round pick in last year’s NFL Draft to select his replacement. Penix was consistently breathing down Cousins’ back, and performance dictated a change.
Through 14 games Cousins completed 66.9% of his passes for 3,508 yards. While the former MN Vikings quarterback threw 18 touchdowns, he also led the entire NFL with 16 interceptions. That held true despite not playing the final three games of the year.
At this point Cousins is looking for a new opportunity. There still remains a few quarterback needy teams, but his contract may be a deterrent. The four-year $180 million deal he signed last offseason carries a $40 million cap hit in 2025. The dead cap for this season would hit Atlanta at $75 million.
It’s possible that a trade is worked out and Cousins can go compete for a job elsewhere. More realistically he could be released and follow a Russell Wilson-esque path to a new suitor. It seems logical that if Cousins were to land a new gig, he’d certainly be available for that organization’s voluntary work.
A MN Vikings reunion for Kirk Cousins?
It seems far-fetched to believe that there’s a world in which Kirk Cousins wears purple again. He already turned down the Minnesota Vikings to chase paper in Atlanta. At this point he would be coming back to sit behind young starter J.J. McCarthy.
That’s the same situation he is currently in with Atlanta, so the allure is questionable. It is possible that Cousins may just want to work with Kevin O’Connell again, and would be more inclined to help McCarthy succeed than the guy who took his job.
At the end of the day a reunion with Minnesota shouldn’t be expected. As with the Aaron Rodgers situation though, it’s impossible to rule anything out until the Vikings solidify their backup quarterback job.
