Kirk Cousins trade rumors: Adam Schefter suggests Vikings make move for Falcons QB

With rumors brewing about a potential Kirk Cousins trade just one year after he signed with the Atlanta Falcons, ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggested a reunion with the Minnesota Vikings. It might sound crazy considering Cousins just left the team in free agency last offseason, but it’s a move that could make sense for both sides.

It seems the Falcons are ready to hand the reigns over to Michael Penix Jr. a year after drafting him in the first round. Cousins has not seemed happy with the situation after signing a four-year contract last offseason and even opted not to attend Atlanta’s offseason program.

Minnesota lost last year’s starting quarterback, Sam Darnold, in free agency and currently finds itself in rumors to potentially sign veteran and four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. But Schefter noted on his most recent podcast that he can see the Vikings making a move to bring Cousins back if that doesn’t work out.

“Minnesota lost out on Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones. There’s not an obvious solution,” Schefter said. “What if Minnesota just waits around until after the draft and then somehow figures out a way for Kirk Cousins to get to Minnesota as the backup to J.J. McCarthy? Wouldn’t that make some sense?”

With Atlanta keeping Cousins on its roster past a March 15 deadline, the quarterback earned a $10 million roster bonus. That would seemingly indicate that the Falcons would like to keep Cousins for the 2025 season as the backup to Penix.

However, Schefter still believes that a deal could still happen simply because Cousins is unhappy in Atlanta. He also noted that the quarterback has a no-trade clause in his contract and could hold off a deal from happening until after the NFL Draft to prevent going to a team who takes a rookie again.

“I will be highly surprised if Kirk Cousins ever plays another down ever plays another down in Atlanta again,” Schefter said. “I don’t believe he wants to be there. I don’t believe he’ll be there. But the question is how this plays out and when this unfolds, and which team steps forward to make a move for Kirk Cousins.”

Cousins played for the Vikings for six seasons from 2018-23, but suffered a season-ending Achilles injury eight games into the 2023 season. Overall, he threw for 23,265 yards, 171 touchdowns and 55 interceptions in his career with the Vikings.

Schefter’s theory would make sense if Cousins was guaranteed the starter if he returns, but there’s also the fact that the Vikings took J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick last season. If he is unhappy being the backup for Atlanta, he likely wouldn’t want to go somewhere where that wouldn’t be the same situation.

Either way, it makes for some interesting speculation. A lot is still up in the air with the draft yet to take place and a few free agents still unsigned, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility just yet.