The Minnesota Vikings finalized a trade Tuesday to bring back veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of the NFL trade deadline, Yahoo Sports reported.
In exchange for the 38-year-old passer, Las Vegas received a 2027 third-round draft pick. The transaction remains contingent on Cousins passing a physical examination, according to the team.
Minnesota Replaces Struggling Signal-Callers
Minnesota moved quickly to address its quarterback position following a 23-6 defeat to the Buffalo Bills on "Monday Night Football" in Week 9. In that loss, Carson Wentz threw for 81 yards and committed three turnovers. The Vikings had also turned to Kyler Murray for six starts earlier in the campaign without finding stability under center. Reports differed on Minnesota's exact record entering the deadline, with The Sporting News listing the club at 6-2 and USA TODAY Sports reporting the team was 7-2.
With Minnesota's defense playing at an elite level, team leadership targeted Cousins as the ideal candidate to steady an offense headlined by star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. ESPN first reported that the Vikings had pinpointed Cousins as their primary target shortly before the league's 4 p.m. Eastern cutoff.
A Resurgent Campaign in Las Vegas
Cousins, currently in his 15th NFL season, spent six years with the Vikings from 2018 through 2023. Following a stint with the Atlanta Falcons, he engineered an offensive turnaround in Las Vegas under first-year head coach Klint Kubiak.
Through nine starts with the 4-5 Raiders, Cousins completed 202 of 315 passes for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, posting a 97.1 passer rating. His 20 passing touchdowns rank second in the NFL behind only Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals. Under Cousins' direction, Las Vegas improved to eighth in scoring at 26.4 points per contest after finishing last in the league in that category during the 2025 season.
What Happens Next
The trade immediately reshapes the quarterback landscape for both franchises. By moving Cousins, Las Vegas has cleared the way for rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza to take over as the full-time starter, ClutchPoints reported. Mendoza, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 draft out of Indiana, will make his first career start on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, who hold the league's top-ranked pass defense. Before departing, Cousins acknowledged the succession by posting a social media photo alongside the rookie.
For Minnesota, it remains uncertain how quickly Cousins will be integrated into the starting lineup. The Vikings travel to face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday. If Cousins is cleared and starts, it will mark his first appearance for the franchise since Week 8 of the 2023 season, an outing that also took place at Lambeau Field.
