Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.
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Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is being linked to a team that certainly wasn't expected.
The Minnesota Vikings and quarterback Kirk Cousins had a lengthy history together from 2018 to 2023, but as they say, all good things must come to an end, and they cut ties in March of 2024. Now, Cousins finds himself a free agent again, following a short stint with the Atlanta Falcons.
So, Cousins is a free agent, and he’s one of a handful of veteran quarterbacks still available to sign. That puts him in an elite category, and he’s getting interest from a range of teams. One of those teams is surprising.
Cousins was first 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. After leaving the Vikings, he signed a four-year, $180 million contract, with the Falcons, according to Spotrac research.
With those numbers, he’s not a a “value pick,” as they say. But, he certainly adds value.
Kirk Cousins Projected to Land With Team That’s Currently in Quarterback Limbo
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been waiting to see if Aaron Rodgers is coming back for another season, and it’s pretty much expected that he’ll be back. But, why go through the drama of waiting if there’s another seasoned quarterback available who’s willing to jump in right away?
“They’re supposedly waiting for Aaron Rodgers,” Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes in a Tuesday, March 10 feature. “If they do for the rest of the week, they’ll likely miss out on multiple affordable options — like Geno Smith, who could possibly be had for $1.3 million. Other potential candidates include Kirk Cousins.”
According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora, the team is seriously looking at Cousins. “Former Vikings playoff quarterback Kirk Cousins is among the top options for Pittsburgh if Rodgers is not back, according to league sources, while the team is legitimately high on the upside of second-year quarterback Will Howard as well,” La Canfora stated in a Sports Boom report.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter has also said Kirk Cousins is a “definitely” an option for the Steelers, according to sports personality Andrew Fillipponi, if Aaron Rodgers decides to not play for them in 2026.
Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings is Another Option
In a March 4 feature in Essentially Sports, via Yahoo News, Luke Hubbard predicts where a handful of NFL free agents will land, and for Cousins, he predicts that he’ll be back in Minnesota.
The Vikings certainly don’t have full faith in quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who had a shaky second year with the team in 2025. In the story, 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.”
“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.”