Until something is done or he's gone, there will be speculation and various reports about how far the Minnesota Vikings will go to keep Sam Darnold. There's a solid chance he's gone to a highest bidder, and the JJ McCarthy era will start in 2025.
If Darnold leaves and McCarthy is anointed the starter, the question becomes who will join him on Minnesota's quarterback depth chart. Would Daniel Jones come back? Adding a veteran of some sort would obviously happen.
Gregg Rosenthal and Daniel Jeremiah have a new NFL Network show and podcast called "40s and Free Agents", which will have a limited run between now and the 2025 draft talking about, as the title suggests, the draft and free agency.
On this week's debut episode, Jeremiah brought up an interesting scenario for the Vikings.
"Nobody’s talked about this but I think it’s a fascinating conversation", Jeremiah said. “If, let’s say, Sam Darnold leaves, Sam Darnold goes to the Steelers right – so he’s gone. If you’re Minnesota – and here’s the options, right?
"You have JJ, you’re hoping he’s going to be the guy, but you need a veteran there. You have Daniel Jones who’s been on your team last year; you have Kirk Cousins...is available to come back, as – you know – buying you a little more time with JJ McCarthy."
"Would you rather have Daniel Jones with what he’s going to cost, which I would have to believe is a lot more than what Kirk Cousins, because of the Falcons and the way that contract was situated. You could get Kirk Cousins back in Minnesota for next to nothing."
Daniel Jeremiah clarifies what he meant with Kirk Cousins reunion proposal
Jeremiah appeared on Friday's edition of "The Pat McAfee Show", and he took the opportunity to clarify what he said about Cousins coming back to the Vikings if Darnold leaves.
"I think people misinterpreted the Cousins thing, 'Why would they bring back Kirk and not let J.J. go?'" Jeremiah said. "No, no, J.J.'s gonna be the starter, but you have to have some veteran insurance there. First of all, the guy needs to stay healthy, and with Kirk Cousins, I just thought it was a unique opportunity for somebody ... who knows the offense inside and out. Atlanta's footing the bill, so it's going to cost you nothing."
Jeremiah talked about the idea that Cousins would cast a big shadow over McCarthy, which there's definitely something to. But as Jeremiah said, Cousins isn't wired like some other veteran quarterbacks (Aaron Rodgers) might be in a similar situation. And Cousins knows Kevin O'Connell's offense.
The Falcons have publicly said they're comfortable keeping Cousins as an expensive backup to Michael Penix, but Jeremiah sees through that like everyone should. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported Cousins had a meeting with Falcons owner Arthur Blank this week.
Cousins of course said he wants to go somewhere he can start next season. Time will tell if that opportunity is out there for him.
Unless McCarthy was not ready or not healthy, Cousins would not be in line to start in 2025 if he came back to the Vikings. The Vikings might also be an exception to desire to start, and he would foot Atlanta with most of his salary bill by signing a minimum deal somewhere.
It's easy to just say Cousins would never come back to Minnesota. But Jeremiah presented the narrow scenario where it might be a fit, and as veteran backups for McCarthy go the Vikings can do a lot worse.
