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The final straw that pushed Vikings into stunning Kirk Cousins trade
The Minnesota Vikings acquired quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders shortly before the trade deadline, after backup Carson Wentz’s poor performance against Buffalo prompted the team to revive discussions. Cousins chose to return to Minnesota for its playoff push, giving the 6-2 Vikings a familiar starter as they seek to strengthen their chances this season.
Minnesota gave up a third-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Cousins, 38, had gone 4-5 in nine games for Las Vegas, throwing 20 touchdown passes and eight interceptions; he reportedly decided to leave after discussions with his family, agent Mike McCartney and coach Kevin O’Connell. He previously played four seasons with receiver Justin Jefferson and appeared in 25 regular-season games under O’Connell, but the Vikings won only one playoff game during his earlier tenure. The team was set to visit Green Bay before facing San Francisco in Week 11.
In short
- Minnesota traded a 2027 third-round pick for Kirk Cousins.
- Carson Wentz’s two-interception display helped prompt the move.
- Cousins returns to the Vikings for their playoff push.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The trade gives Minnesota a proven quarterback who already knows the team’s system and has worked with Justin Jefferson and coach Kevin O’Connell. With the Vikings pursuing a playoff place, Cousins offers a more dependable option after Carson Wentz struggled, and the price was a third-round pick rather than a larger haul.
The case against
A third-round pick is a meaningful cost for a 38-year-old quarterback whose earlier Minnesota tenure brought only one playoff win, and his 4-5 record in Las Vegas raises questions about how much he can improve the team’s prospects. Bringing back a familiar starter may also divert resources from building for the future, while leaving less room to assess or develop other quarterbacks.
Explained simply
Kirk Cousins is an American football quarterback, the player who leads the offence and throws the ball to receivers. He previously spent four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, where he played with star receiver Justin Jefferson and worked under coach Kevin O’Connell, before joining the Las Vegas Raiders.
NFL teams can trade players and draft picks, which are choices of eligible players in future drafts. Minnesota had relied on Carson Wentz as its backup quarterback, while it pursues a place in the playoffs, the league’s knockout competition. Cousins’ earlier spell with the Vikings brought one playoff win, so his return also reconnects the team with a familiar player from that period.