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Kirk Cousins Officially Enters the Vikings’ Offseason Puzzle
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- Kirk Cousins Officially Enters the Vikings’ Offseason Puzzle
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Kirk Cousins led the Minnesota Vikings for six seasons from 2018 to 2023 as the QB1, resulting in two playoff trips and one postseason win. Now, the stars are aligning for a reunion. Cousins's current employer, the Atlanta Falcons , will reportedly release him in the next few weeks, and NFL media was not shy last weekend about linking him to Minnesota.
Minnesota doesn't need a reunion to make the quarterback rumor cycle messy, but Cousins' situation now sits in the middle of the QB market.
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No stranger to the Vikings' quarterback rumor mill , The Athletic 's Dianna Russini led the charge, connecting Cousins to Minnesota for a reunion contract.
How Kirk Cousins Fits Into the Vikings' 2026 Quarterback Conversation
The divisive Cousins might be back.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins walks off the field at Levi's Stadium following the final whistle, with the moment dated Oct. 19, 2025, as Atlanta wrapped a road matchup in Santa Clara while Cousins processed late drives, sideline conversations, and the aftermath of a tightly contested game against San Francisco under bright lights and heavy scrutiny. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Cousins to Be Released
CBS Sports ' Cody Nagel reported over the weekend , "The Atlanta Falcons are barreling toward another quarterback reset, and this one may finally bring clarity — not just for the future of the position, but for Kirk Cousins' next act as well."
"According to ESPN, the Falcons are expected to release Cousins before the start of the new league year in March, a move that would allow the veteran quarterback to choose his next destination — or decide whether he wants one at all — while reopening the quarterback picture in Atlanta."
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Strangely, Atlanta will need a Cousins-like quarterback in 2026, mainly to get them over the hump of Michael Penix Jr.'s ACL recovery. But it looks less and less likely that Cousins will fill that role.
Russini on Cousins
Then, the fun part. Russini formally attached the Vikings' name to the upcoming Cousins sweepstakes.
She explained , "Now comes the interesting part. Cousins has made no secret of his desire to become a full-time starter again. But Atlanta needs a capable backup, especially one who might have to play early as Michael Penix Jr. works his way back from his third ACL surgery. There's also the Kevin Stefanski factor."
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"Atlanta's new head coach served as Cousins' OC for one season in Minnesota. I'm watching to see if the Falcons find any parties interested in their backup. Speaking of those Vikings, one league source speculated that Cousins could be an option there, given his history with Kevin O'Connell and Minnesota's desire to bring in competition for young J.J. McCarthy. All the while, the days tick away to March 13."
Anytime Cousins has been remotely available via trade or otherwise in the last two years, the Vikings always surface as a landing spot. Like clockwork. The 2026 offseason is no different.
CBS Sports ' Tyler Sullivan also name-dropped the Pittsburgh Steelers as a possible destination for Cousins last week, noting , "The jury is still out on whether or not Aaron Rodgers will be back for his 22nd season in the NFL or if he'll opt for retirement as he's alluded to throughout the 2025 season."
"If he does call it quits, the Steelers aren't in a strong position to find a quarterback of the future at the 2026 NFL Draft, owning the 21st overall pick. With that in mind, the front office could do what they've done over the last few offseasons and bring in veteran quarterbacks."
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The San Francisco 49ers (if Mac Jones is traded) and the Arizona Cardinals could also make sense for Cousins' services.
Sullivan concluded on Cousins to PIT: "They did it with Russell Wilson in 2024 and Aaron Rodgers last year, and it would seem like Cousins fits that similar profile they've targeted in the past. With Mike McCarthy now installed as head coach, Cousins' skillset would also seem to fit his system pretty seamlessly."
A QB2 in MIN? Or QB1?
If one assumes that Cousins-to-Minnesota is a real possibility, the fun part becomes analyzing and predicting his job title.
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For years, Cousins unabashedly led the Vikings at QB1, but a reunion wouldn't carry the exact same stakes. O'Connell could do three things with a freshly signed Cousins on his roster:
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Concede that Cousins will likely be the QB1 in Week 1 of 2026
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Toss Cousins into a summer camp battle against McCarthy
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Sign him strictly as a contingency plan at QB2, the same role Cousins held heading into 2025 with the Falcons
The last time the Vikings employed Cousins under center (2023), he ranked as the NFL's fifth-best passer in EPA per play . But in 2025, Cousins ranked 30th of 35 qualifying quarterbacks.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell surveys the field at U.S. Bank Stadium during second-quarter action, with the scene set on Dec. 25, 2025, as Minnesota battled Detroit while O'Connell monitored adjustments, communication, and situational flow amid a physical divisional game on Christmas Day under intense crowd noise, late stakes, and playoff implications looming. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
It's worth differentiating that 2026 Cousins won't necessarily play like 2023 Cousins; he's since suffered a torn Achilles tendon and has naturally aged three years.
Finally Cheap
The perk of any Cousins signing this go-round is damn near a first of its kind regarding the man. He's basically been paid by the 2026 Falcons; his next team will sign him for NFL pennies.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins releases a throw at Allegiant Stadium as pressure closes, with the play occurring on Dec. 16, 2024, during a road game in Las Vegas while Cousins challenged coverage, navigated traffic, and tested timing against the Raiders' defense in the second half amid mounting urgency, tight windows, and late-game risk. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
In the past, Vikings loyalists divided into camps over whether Cousins was good at all, and his sizable contract always irritated a significant portion of the fan base. This time, that resentment won't apply. He'll be similar to Russell Wilson joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, already compensated by the Denver Broncos , so his subsequent deal need not break the bank.
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Will the same crowd that despised Cousins and his contract from 2018 to 2023 suddenly warm up to him because he's affordable?
Cousins will turn 38 this summer.
