Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.
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The Minnesota Vikings cut ties with quarterback Kirk Cousins in March of 2024, and now, the NFL’s free agency period is once again up ahead. Cousins is facing the reality of being a free agent again, this time after a run with the Atlanta Falcons.
The Falcons signed Cousins in a four-year, $180 million contract, according to Spotrac research. The quarterback was originally drafted by the Washington Redskins, now the Commanders, in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft as the 102nd overall pick out of Michigan State University.
Now, Cousins is likely back on the market by Wednesday, March 11, when free agency started up again. So, who will Cousins land with once free agency starts? Having a veteran quarterback is valuable on any squad, but Cousins has a high price tag, so whichever team nabs him will likely have to pay up.
Kirk Cousins Predicted to Land With a Familiar Team in NFL Free Agency, Including the Minnesota Vikings
In a Wednesday, March 4, feature in Essentially Sports, via Yahoo News, Luke Hubbard predicts where a handful of NFL free agents will land, including Cousins. For Cousins, he predicts that he’ll be back in Minnesota.
There’s no denying that the Vikings don’t have total faith in franchise quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who had a shaky second year with the team in 2025. There’s been plenty of talk about the team bringing on Kyler Murray. “They’re in the market for an experienced, productive and reliable starter who isn’t going to break the bank. Murray addresses a lot of those issues,” Alec Lewis of the Athletic notes.
But, the Vikings are familiar with Cousins. In the piece, Hubbard notes that even though he’s “not sure exactly where Cousins and the Vikings stand relationship-wise” that it’s “hard to say this wouldn’t be a match made in heaven for both sides.”
Kirk Cousins ‘Wants to Be a Starter Again,’ NFL Analyst Says
“Cousins wants to be a starter again, and he wants to play for a team that’s ready to make a run at the Super Bowl in the next few years,” Hubbard adds. “The Vikings are the only team that really fits that bill. Maybe Pittsburgh, but with Rodgers likely returning, that doesn’t seem like a likely landing spot for Cousins.”
Hubbard brings up that the Vikings aren’t sold on McCarthy and “should be looking to bring someone else in to challenge McCarthy for the starting job.”
“Why wouldn’t they want to bring someone in who is a veteran and knows Kevin O’Connell’s system?” he adds. “Minnesota’s going to bring a veteran in; it’s just a matter of who. Do they swing big for Cousins or Carr, or do they go cheaper and try to land someone like Joe Flacco? We’ll see in a little over a week.”
It’s worth noting that even if Cousins never plays football again, he won’t be hurting. According to research from NFL analyst Warren Sharp, Cousins has made $322 million in his NFL career. While that’s a lot of bag, what makes the number even more impressive is that he’s neck-and-neck with Tom Brady in NFL career earnings.