Kirk Cousins
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Former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to take some time when deciding his future in free agency this offseason
The Minnesota Vikings have one very big order of business this offseason, and that involves finding an answer at the quarterback position. After J.J. McCarthy struggled in his first NFL action, the Vikings know that they cannot afford to simply hand him the starting job again in 2026.
As a result, Minnesota is widely expected to add some competition for McCarthy over the next few months. One potential option for the team is their former starter, Kirk Cousins, who is set to get released by the Atlanta Falcons next week. The Vikings are expected to have some interest in reuniting with Cousins in free agency, but it doesn’t sound like he’s going to be in a rush to sign with a new team once he hits the open market.
Kirk Cousins’ Free Agency Plans, Revealed
Mike Garafolo
From @gmfb on Howie Roseman’s Quinnen Williams-esque ask for A.J. Brown if he’s going to consider trading the #Eagles WR, Kirk Cousins’ expected patience in free agency and the latest arm-length controversy after the Scouting Combine and ahead of pro days.
Cousins operated as the Vikings’ starting quarterback from 2018 to 2023, before the team ultimately let him walk in free agency, where he signed a massive four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons. Shortly after, though, Atlanta selected Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and it didn’t take long for things to go off the rails for Cousins and his new team.
The four-time Pro Bowler didn’t even make it through one full season before he was benched in favor of Penix. In 2025, the Falcons declared Penix as their starter, which made Cousins the most expensive backup quarterback in the NFL. Still, with Penix dealing with a handful of injuries, Cousins took the field for 10 games, eight of which were starts.
Now, the two sides are set to part ways, meaning that Cousins could conceivably return to a Minnesota offense that he has a lot of familiarity with. And yet, while a reunion with the Vikings makes a lot of sense on paper, NFL insider Mike Garafolo revealed that Cousins may take his time when it comes to finding a new home in free agency.
“This is not one I necessarily think is gonna be a quick one,” Garafolo said of Cousins’ free agency on “Good Morning Football.” “This could be one that waits a little bit more … This one could drag on for a couple of weeks, maybe even to the draft, maybe even to the point where he goes, ‘I’m just gonna sit back and wait and see if there’s an injury at some point and a team needs a quarterback.'”
Should the Vikings Pursue Kirk Cousins in Free Agency?
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
GettyKirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on after the game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Cousins is a bit of an interesting case in free agency. He wasn’t awful for the Falcons in 2025 (166/269, 1,721 YDS, 10 TD, 5 INT), but it doesn’t look like he’s the Pro Bowl-caliber player that he once was anymore. That’s what happens when you get older, and with Cousins preparing to enter his age-38 season, he likely is only going to earn a one-year deal once he hits the open market.
If Cousins plays his hand right, he could find a starting job this offseason, but that would likely only happen if he follows the plan outlined by Garafolo above. Minnesota could try to convince him to compete with McCarthy for the starting job, but if he wants to land with a team where he will for sure be their starter, that could prevent him from finding his way back to the Vikings.