Vikings bring back Kirk Cousins for a 2027 third-round pick

The Minnesota Vikings reacquired quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday, sending a 2027 third-round pick to Las Vegas and betting that the 38-year-old can rescue a season that started 6-0, ESPN reported. The trade clears the way for Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, to take over as the Raiders' starter.

The deal matters because both franchises are making their biggest quarterback decision of the season at once. Minnesota has lost consecutive games and scored only 19 points over that stretch, while its defense and special teams rank among the best in the NFL. Las Vegas, at 4-5, is handing its offense to a rookie with eight games left.

Minnesota's quarterback play forced the issue. On Monday night, Carson Wentz turned in the worst performance by a Vikings quarterback since 2006, completing 8 of 25 passes for 81 yards with three turnovers and a 2.3 QBR, according to ESPN. He was filling in for Kyler Murray, who sat out with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and ranks No. 27 in QBR at 45.7. Talks with Las Vegas sped up after the 23-6 home loss to the Bills, Pro Football Rumors reported.

Cousins knows the building. He played for the Vikings from 2018 to 2023 and spent two seasons under coach Kevin O'Connell, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2022 when he threw for 4,547 yards with 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. In 2023 he started eight games before tearing his Achilles against the Green Bay Packers. Since he left for the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, the Vikings have started eight quarterbacks and posted the NFL's second-worst team QBR since the start of the 2025 season, at 36.3.

He arrives in form. In nine starts for the Raiders, Cousins threw for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, completing 64.1% of his passes with a 98 passer rating. His 20 touchdown passes rank second in the league, behind only Joe Burrow's 23, Pro Football Rumors noted.

The money is modest for a starter. Unless the contract is reworked, Minnesota owes Cousins the rest of his $1.3 million base salary this season and a $10 million roster bonus this spring, ESPN reported. To open a roster spot, the Vikings released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who is expected to re-sign to the practice squad, according to a source cited by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Raiders general manager John Spytek said Las Vegas was not shopping Cousins. He said calls came in before Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley made the offer that mattered, and that he had not discussed a trade with Cousins before Tuesday. Spytek said, "We didn't have any expectation that this was coming."

The move turns the page to Mendoza. The Heisman Trophy winner threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns while completing 72% of his passes in his lone season at Indiana, leading the Hoosiers to their first national title, ESPN reported. His only NFL action came late in a Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots, when he completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards. Spytek said the rookie "passed every test" and insisted the team is not giving up on this season. Aidan O'Connell will serve as the backup.

The trade capped a busy deadline that also sent receiver Keenan Allen to San Francisco, as we reported earlier. More coverage is on the Sports Sector page.

Both quarterbacks face hard openers. Mendoza makes his first start Sunday at home against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, followed by a game against the Denver Broncos, while Cousins begins his second Minnesota stint against the Packers in Wisconsin.