NFL rumors: Raiders' Fernando Mendoza revelation could lead to Kirk Cousins trade reunion with Vikings
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Buckle up, NFL fans. The trade deadline is just hours away, and the Minnesota Vikings could be one of the teams to watch as they search for help at quarterback.
A reunion with Kirk Cousins is suddenly an intriguing possibility.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer believes Minnesota could make a push for the Las Vegas Raiders quarterback after Kyler Murray's injury and Carson Wentz's struggles against the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. Wentz completed just 8 of 25 passes for 81 yards and threw two interceptions in Minnesota's 23-6 loss.
Breer explained that the Vikings had not been aggressively pursuing another quarterback, believing they could get by with their current options. However, the circumstances have changed, and Minnesota has two third-round picks that could help facilitate a deal.
Cousins is an obvious candidate. He spent six seasons with the Vikings and played under Kevin O'Connell during his final two years in Minnesota. The familiarity with O'Connell's offense could make the transition much easier than bringing in another quarterback who would need to learn the system.
According to Breer, Fernando Mendoza has made enough progress that many within the organization believe the rookie is ready to become a starter if called upon. Las Vegas selected Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Raiders could decide that now is the time to turn the offense over to their future franchise quarterback. Though Las Vegas reportedly has little interest in moving Cousins.
ESPN's Adam Schefter has also reported on Minnesota's quarterback situation. They are looking for a QB.
A Cousins reunion would make plenty of sense from Minnesota's perspective. The bigger question is whether the Raiders are willing to let him go and put Mendoza under center earlier than expected.