Kirk Cousins is heading back to the Minnesota Vikings, with the Las Vegas Raiders trading the veteran quarterback to Minnesota for a 2027 third-round draft pick, ESPN and NFL Network reported on Tuesday (US time).
The deal was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo hours before the 4pm ET trade deadline (8am AEDT Wednesday), and reunites the 38-year-old with the club where he spent six seasons from 2018 to 2023.
It gives the Vikings an experienced starter after a quarterback crisis threatened to derail a season built on the NFL’s stingiest defence.
Why the Vikings moved
Minnesota (6-2) failed to score a touchdown for the third time this season in Monday night’s 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills, when Carson Wentz completed just eight of 25 passes for 81 yards and threw two interceptions, ESPN reported.
Wentz was starting with Kyler Murray still dealing with a hamstring injury, while the Vikings’ defence has allowed the fewest points in the league this season, KSTP reported.
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Asked after the loss about a possible quarterback trade, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said: “We’ve had dialogue about a lot of different positions.”
“Tight turnaround, obviously, playing the Monday night game, and we’ll get right to work on any potential moves that can be there. But really just focused on the game tonight, which was not good enough in any way, shape or form.”
Cousins’ return to Minnesota
Cousins has started all nine of the Raiders’ games this season, completing 64.1 per cent of his passes for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, according to ESPN.
He joined the Raiders in the off-season after being released by the Atlanta Falcons, who he had signed with as a free agent in 2024 after leaving Minnesota.
Cousins played his last two seasons with the Vikings under O’Connell and made the Pro Bowl in 2022, when he threw for 4,547 yards with 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. His 2023 season ended when he tore his Achilles against the Green Bay Packers.
The Vikings, who traded quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants on Monday (US time), next face the Packers in Green Bay.
Mendoza era begins in Las Vegas
The trade clears the way for No.1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza to start for the Raiders, with ESPN reporting he is poised to make his first start this week at home against the Seattle Seahawks. Aidan O’Connell will be his backup.
Cousins’ move capped a busy final day before the deadline. Buffalo also traded for Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker, sending a second-round pick to the Titans for Hooker and a fifth-round pick, ESPN reported.
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