The Atlanta Falcons' decision in March 2024 to sign Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal is looking rough in hindsight — especially considering the Falcons proceeded to draft Michael Penix Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft. The team's quarterback room has since become a source of drama.
Cousins struggled with turnovers in 2024 before being benched for Penix, who has held onto the starting job into the 2025 season. Atlanta appears all-in on giving its younger passer room to succeed, leaving Cousins on the bench for most of the 2025 season despite his massive contract and track record of success at age 37.
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, Cousins' name remains a hot one on the potential market. He still wants a QB1 opportunity at this stage of his career, USA Today recently reported. He is open to a move while owning a no-trade clause in his deal. Cousins recently made a Week 8 start for Atlanta but struggled in a blowout loss to the Miami Dolphins.
With Cousins appearing to desire a trade from the Falcons, are there any potential fits for him on the market? Here's a look at three potential landing spots for the veteran quarterback.
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Kirk Cousins landing spots
Minnesota Vikings
If there is one clear-cut fit for Cousins among the other 31 NFL teams, it's a reunion with his last team: the Minnesota Vikings.
Almost every squad has a clear path forward at quarterback right now, whether a surefire star QB1, a stopgap veteran, or a young prospect given the reigns of their offense. In Minnesota though, Kevin O'Connell's quarterback situation is murky at best.
The Vikings have made it clear that the 2025 season was J.J. McCarthy's to step in and prove himself. He missed the 2024 season due to injury, but with the Vikings letting Sam Darnold walk for Seattle in the offseason, McCarthy took over. That plan hasn't entirely worked out at the mid-way point of the season.
As a last-minute free agent addition, Carson Wentz was thrust into the Vikings' QB1 role by Week 3 when McCarthy went down with an injury. Wentz made five consecutive starts before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury — which now leaves Minnesota without the veteran backup to McCarthy the team thought it had.
#Vikings QB Carson Wentz will undergo season-ending surgery on his left shoulder, sources tell The Insiders. Wentz battled through the injury in last week’s game against the #Chargers but after further evaluation, a procedure was deemed necessary. pic.twitter.com/kV5IBllrPn
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 27, 2025
Wentz wasn't perfect, but he had better numbers than McCarthy running the Vikings' offense, suggesting the former Michigan star could still benefit from watching from the sidelines. McCarthy completed under 60 percent of his passes for 301 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions over two games. Still, the Vikings "believe [McCarthy's] going to be successful," Ian Rapoport recently reported, as he's set to return from injury. But right now, unproven rookie Max Brosmer appears to be his new backup.
Enter Cousins, who chose to join the Falcons in 2024 free agency rather than re-sign with the Vikings. Minnesota’s system is built for a veteran quarterback to succeed — something Cousins is familiar with. From 2018-23, he earned three Pro Bowl seasons with the Vikings. He could easily step in, allowing McCarthy to continue learning while benefiting from prior chemistry with O’Connell and key offensive pieces as Minnesota looks to recover from a 3-4 start.
There are, of course, at least two massive problems with this trade idea. First, the Vikings may not want to signal they’ve already lost trust in McCarthy by reuniting with their former quarterback. Second, Cousins still has two seasons remaining on his massive contract, which carries a cap hit of $57.5 million in 2026 and 2027, according to Spotrac. It’s unlikely Minnesota wants to take on a significant contract for a 37-year-old with an injury history who won’t be their long-term QB answer.
Still, if Cousins is traded before the deadline, the Vikings make the most sense of any potential landing spot. The more likely scenario remains that he stays in Atlanta until the offseason, then works with the team to find a suitable exit — but a reunion in Minnesota would give Cousins the competitive opportunity he desires.
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Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have already made one trade for a quarterback this season. It's very unlikely they pursue a second. Joe Burrow's long-term injury caused Cincinnati to first try Jake Browning as QB1, then acquire veteran Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns. And for the most part, the Flacco addition has been a strong fit.
Flacco has thrown for 784 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions in his three starts as a Bengal. He's been a more effective option than Browning, connecting with the Bengals' star receivers well and keeping Cincinnati competitive without Burrow, who could return in December.
All of that is to say: the Bengals should not be considered likely to trade for Cousins before the deadline. Burrow is their long-term option, and Flacco is their short-term option.
Even if it's a longshot, Cincinnati is worth mentioning in any Cousins sweepstakes — primarily because things could change quickly with the 40-year-old Flacco, who did struggle in Cleveland to start 2025. Additionally, Flacco is dealing with an AC joint sprain that has put his Week 9 status in question, per Ian Rapoport.
If injuries are going to hold Flacco back at all, there's reason to believe the Bengals could add another quarterback. They sit at 3-5 in an AFC North that could still be up for grabs with a hot stretch, especially considering Burrow could return late this season. If Flacco's injury is more severe than expected, or if his hot start in Cincinnati cools down, Cousins could be an answer.
Like Minnesota, the offensive pieces are in-place for a veteran quarterback to succeed in Cincinnati. Flacco has proven that. As recently as 2023, Cousins threw for 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions — he could be an effective arm to lead Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Again, Cousins' contract is a major roadblock in any hypothetical deals. It wouldn't make much sense for the Bengals to take on millions of dollars for multiple years of Cousins when they know they have Burrow returning eventually. If there's some kind of solution for Atlanta to eat most of Cousins' money though, the Bengals should be kept in mind.
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Las Vegas Raiders
Injuries to starting quarterbacks could change the Cousins trade market in an instant, but as things stand, there aren't many teams that realistically need a starting passer. However, among struggling veterans across the NFL, Geno Smith may lead the bunch.
In seven games with the Las Vegas Raiders, Smith has thrown a league-high 10 interceptions and led the team to a 2-5 record. With the Raiders quickly falling out of AFC West contention, a change at quarterback could be in the cards for Pete Carroll — and while Kenny Pickett or Aidan O’Connell could get looks as the current backups, Cousins is much more proven.
There was some hype for Las Vegas’ offense entering 2025, with Brock Bowers at tight end and Ashton Jeanty at running back. The offense has struggled, though. If the Raiders are still holding out hope for a playoff push, benching Smith could be their answer — and perhaps they believe Cousins gives them a chance to go on a run.
For the Falcons, a Cousins trade to Las Vegas would allow them to move on from their failed veteran experiment by sending him far off to the AFC. There aren't many QB-needy teams this trade deadline, but as Smith's struggles have continued, it's not too far-fetched to wonder if Carroll would welcome an outside addition.
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