The new NFL league season is nearly upon us, and teams are currently prepping for the NFL combine and draft. Per usual, rosters will change drastically between next season and this one.
Some teams, such as the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers, are at a crossroads and have to determine whether they are better off developing the next franchise quarterback or adding a veteran to “win now.”
One veteran quarterback expected to find a new home next season is Kirk Cousins, who has spent the last two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. Now, ESPN is projecting Cousins to [open next season as the starter for a new team.](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47977560/32-nfl-starting-quarterbacks-predictions-2026-season#MIN)
“J.J. McCarthy’s performance last season did not indicate he could deliver it. Given how Minnesota let its known quantity in Darnold walk out the door in favor of McCarthy, I suspect coach Kevin O’Connell will want to go back to known, solid production. And Cousins represents that,” wrote Seth Walder.
“The veteran quarterback was playing some of the best ball of his career with the Vikings in 2023 before suffering an Achilles injury. Cousins wasn’t the same with Atlanta, though he did play well at the end of last season.
The Falcons are expected to release Cousins. Once they do, the Vikings might take him back.”
Cousins returning to Minnesota would raise yet another question: what’s next for J.J. McCarthy?