Regardless of the rhetoric, it felt all but certain that the Atlanta Falcons would trade Kirk Cousins prior to training camp. Spending $45 million per year on a backup quarterback isn't exactly viewed as smart business in NFL circles.
The issue for both Cousins and the Falcons is that their best options for the 2025 season have fallen by the wayside. With the Browns holding an open tryout between Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, and the Steelers recently making the Aaron Rodgers signing official, Cousins is likely looking at clipboard duties this year no matter what.
Bleacher Report named two teams with projected first-year starting quarterbacks — the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings — as the two remaining landing spots for Cousins. If second-round rookie Tyler Shough struggles to lead the first-team offense in training camp, coach Kellen Moore could be looking for a backup plan, as the Saints currently have one of the weakest QB rooms in all of football.
The Vikings aren’t that far behind, with journeyman Sam Howell and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer the current backup options for J.J. McCarthy, who’s coming off a lost rookie season due to a meniscus injury and will take his first real NFL snaps in 2025.
B/R analyst Kris Knox dropped a surprising take on the Vikings’ QB situation on Monday, suggesting the Vikings could look to reunite with Cousins this summer if McCarthy struggles during camp:
“The Falcons will almost certainly deal the four-time Pro Bowler for a reasonable price, and he'll likely agree to a deal if it allows him to see the playing field,” Knox wrote of Cousins. However, his trade value won't really spike until/unless another starter is injured or a QB camp competition fails to yield a reliable starter. Situations to watch include those of the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints. New Orleans lost Derek Carr to retirement and is staging a competition between Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler and rookie second-round pick Tyler Shough. The Vikings have turned to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season following knee surgery.
If head coach Kevin O'Connell doesn't believe McCarthy is ready to start toward the end of camp, he could consider adding a familiar face in Cousins.
It wouldn’t be all that surprising to see the Vikings seek an upgrade at QB2. As it stands, Minnesota’s season would be in serious jeopardy if McCarthy suffers any kind of injury setback.
Suggesting that the Vikings could pivot away from McCarthy based on training camp and preseason performances, though? That is way too extreme.
The Vikings have screamed confidence in McCarthy through their actions this offseason, opting to save cash and pass on solid veteran options like Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, Flacco and Rodgers. McCarthy is Minnesota’s guy, and he’ll enter the regular season as the starter with rock-solid job security, as long as he’s healthy.
Bringing Cousins back does make sense for Minnesota regardless. At this point, the Vikings are better off waiting to see how the situation plays out. If the Falcons finally cave and grant Cousins his release, Minnesota could bring him back at a significant discount without parting ways with a future draft pick.
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