Kirk Cousins was once the Minnesota Vikings’ franchise quarterback. His journey with the Atlanta Falcons has already seen him linked to a potential return, but more recently, he was presented with a grim reality about his future.
The Falcons signed Cousins to be their starting QB. They also drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 draft. Atlanta gave Penix the reins late last season.
Now, Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler, is left in a state of limbo as an overpriced backup.
Kirk Cousins Gets Reality Check in Post-Vikings Career Slide
GettyKirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on against the Minnesota Vikings.
Cousins has been the subject of trade speculation beyond a return to the Vikings, but there is a significant roadblock for any interested team and the QB. CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr believes the Falcons would “gladly find a taker” for Cousins.
That is, were it not for his “cap hit of $57.5 million in 2026 and 2027.”
“Any team that trades for him can save $32.5 million in cap space next season if they move on,” Kerr wrote on October 16. “The 37-year-old Cousins is the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart, and the Falcons aren’t benching Michael Penix Jr. any time soon. Teams that are looking for an improvement at quarterback would consider Cousins, but his contract and cap hit for the remainder of 2025 are keeping the Falcons from actually moving on.”
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons that included $90 million fully guaranteed.
Part of his reasoning was that the Vikings planned on drafting his successor, which they did, trading up from 11th overall to 10th for J.J. McCarthy. Notably, McCarthy missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury.
Kirk Cousins’ Plan Backfired
GettyMichael Penix Jr. #9 and Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons look on against the New York Giants.
The Vikings cleared the way for McCarthy this past offseason, which would have been a considerable wrinkle had Cousins returned.
However, McCarthy has also been sidelined since Week 2 with an ankle injury, which allowed Carson Wentz to step in as QB1. Meanwhile, Penix, who entered the NFL with a substantial injury history, has shown significant improvement from his rookie season.
That has left Cousins expensive and unable to prove that he can still play at a high level.
He spoke candidly about being caught off guard by the Falcons’ decision to draft Penix and how he would have chosen differently with that information.
“I wasn’t expecting us [Atlanta] to take a quarterback so high,” Cousins said on Netflix’s “Quarterback” in July. “At the time, it felt like I’d been a little bit misled. Or, certainly, if I had the information around free agency, it certainly would have affected my decision. I had no reason to leave Minnesota with how much we loved it there, if both teams are gonna be drafting a quarterback high.”
Jury Still Out on Vikings’ Plan
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on before a game against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Vikings may have been wise to select their quarterback of the future rather than invest in Cousins. That will only prove true if McCarthy pans out as planned, though.
His play was uneven before his injury, as is to be expected from a first-year starter. The Vikings have also had success with Wentz this season. Moreover, head coach Kevin O’Connell helped turn Sam Darnold into a Pro Bowler in 2024.
They let Darnold sign with the Seattle Seahawks and lost Daniel Jones to the Indianapolis Colts.
Jones’ Colts are 5-1, while Darnold has the Seahawks at 4-2. Wentz is 2-1 as the Vikings’ starter, casting doubts about whether the Vikings should turn back to McCarthy when healthy.
The final judgment on the Vikings’ decision to ride with McCarthy will play out over this season and others. Cousins has seen several other potential opportunities disappear. Leaving the Vikings has proven to be costly, not for Cousins’ bank account, but for his career.
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