The Minnesota Vikings decided to roll the dice and allow Sam Darnold to leave in free agency during the offseason in order to clear the way for J.J. McCarthy.
It was a roll of the dice because the Vikings had no clue what they were going to get out of McCarthy and Darnold had already proven he was a great fit in Minnesota's offense.
Through the first half of the season, it looks like the Vikings made the wrong move, as Darnold is thriving with the Seattle Seahawks and McCarthy has had many more downs than ups.
If McCarthy does not get better in the second half of this season, the Vikings could look to bring in a veteran quarterback to challenge him for the starting job in 2026.
Not only does Bleacher Report's Alex Kay think the Vikings will do just that, he predicts Minnesota will trade for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins and give him the starting job over the Michigan product.
Predicted Move: Trade for Kirk Cousins, Relegate J.J. McCarthy to Backup Duties
Reuniting with Kirk Cousins would open the door for Minnesota to immediately contend again. The team has a proven history of success with the veteran, going 13-4 with him as recently as 2022.
The 37-year-old was playing some of his best football under Kevin O'Connell, being named to his fourth career Pro Bowl during the head coach's first season. He was well on his way to earning another nod before an Achilles tear ended his 2023 campaign after eight starts.
While it's true Cousins had a good amount of success with the Vikings, he is not the same player Minnesota parted ways with a few years back.
Cousins showed clear signs of decline in 2024 that led to his benching, and he hasn't been any better in his limited opportunities this season.
Making him less attractive is the fact that he comes with a hefty contract and will cost draft capital to acquire. Cousins' $180 million contract runs through 2027, although he only has $10 million more guaranteed on it in 2026.
Cousins would be a decent insurance policy behind McCarthy, but the Vikings should not, under any circumstances, bench McCarthy for Cousins.
There is just no upside in doing that and the Vikings would be better served giving McCarthy one more year to see if he can figure things out.
However, they should also bring in some kind of insurance policy just in case he falters. Cousins would be a decent option for that role if the price is right and the Falcons are willing to pick up some money.
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