Kirk Cousins quarterback Minnesota Vikings
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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 29: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings calls a play against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field on October 29, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings‘ unexpected offseason of the quarterback continues to rage on as the media and fans continue to attempt to decipher which signal caller the team will add this spring.
49ers backup Mac Jones has been a popular name for much of the past few weeks, although that option could now be in jeopardy, as has Raiders QB Geno Smith.
But one that feels like it makes almost more sense than all the others is a possible reunion with former QB Kirk Cousins, who left Minnesota for Atlanta in March 2024. The Falcons confirmed that they expect to release Cousins on March 11, ahead of the new league year, which will make the four-time Pro Bowler a free agent.
Yet, whilst all signs point to Cousins returning to the Midwest, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini was quick to pump the brakes on the idea, believing that whilst in theory the link makes sense, she does not believe that the move will ultimately happen.
“Minnesota to me, it makes sense on paper. But I just don’t see it happening. I don’t. I think they really want to develop J.J.. I think they really want to get J.J. going. And I learned that actually this week more than ever.” Russini said on Scoop City on Wednesday.
James Palmer – Russini’s co-host of Scoop City – pointed out that simply wanting to develop McCarthy does implicitly mean that the Vikings cannot add another face to that room, something that the team has already been on record wanting to do.
But whilst Russini conceded that, “it could just be a different [player]”, she seemed to remain adamant that Cousins to the Vikings was not a likely outcome.
Why Do the Vikings Not Want to Bring Back Cousins?
Although Russini did not explicitly say the words out loud, her comments point to the fact that she has heard that people in the Minnesota building don’t want to bring back Cousins, even if she cannot explicitly say so on the record.
Given that she “does not see it happening” due to the desire to develop J.J. McCarthy, but also concedes that the team will bring in another QB, but not the former Michigan State man, indicates that there is perhaps some lack of desire to re-sign Cousins specifically.
Cousins had his winningest season of his career under Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell in 2022, but since his Achilles tear in October 2023 the 37-year old has not been quite the same player.
He was also the starting quarterback in that locker room for six years, and there will be many players on the roster who will remember him as such. So, it is quite possible that the front office and the coaching staff feel that adding Cousins back to the fold could end up sending the wrong message about who the true QB1 is – feelings that could be amplified if McCarthy once again struggles early on.