The Minnesota Vikings are reuniting with former quarterback Kirk Cousins after the team agreed to send a 2027 third round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday afternoon.
Cousins, who played for Minnesota from 2018-2023, will now be counted on to jumpstart an offence which has posted a paltry 19 total points over their last two contests. With a defence and special teams unit that ranks amongst the NFL’s best, the Vikings clearly believe that with an upgrade at QB, they can make a deep playoff run.
Prior to the deal, the Vikings had been using a combination of Carson Wentz and Kyler Murray under centre. With Murray still nursing a hamstring injury, and Wentz turning in a dreadful performance on Monday Night Football, the team’s front office pulled the trigger on a deal for the veteran quarterback ahead of the 4pm trade deadline.
Across 9 starts this season the 38 year old has thrown for 2,340 yards and 20 TDs. Only Jordan Love, Joe Burrow, Dak Prescott, and Matthew Stafford have thrown for more yards this season, while Cousins’ 20 TD mark is bested only by Burrow’s 23 on the year.
Perhaps more importantly for the Vikings is the fact that Cousins comes with built in chemistry with All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson, who enjoyed his career best seasons with the 4x Pro Bowler as his quarterback. In 2022 Jefferson led the NFL in targets (184), receptions (128), receiving yards (1,809), 1st downs (83), yards per game (106.4), and scrimmage yards per touch (13.9).
Meanwhile for Las Vegas, the team now officially hands the reins over to this spring’s number 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza briefly appeared in his team’s October loss to the Patriots, going 6 for 8 for 48 yards in mop up duty in the 45-17 loss.
The 6’5″ signal caller led Indiana to a national championship, and earned the Heisman trophy with the Hoosiers in 2025, instantly vaulting him to the top of every scouting service’s draft list. However, it will be a bit of a baptism by fire for the top overall draft pick over the coming weeks as he’ll face the Seahawks, Broncos and Browns defences for his first 3 professional starts.
At 4-5 on the season the Raiders aren’t out of the playoff mix quite yet, but Tuesday’s deal certainly signals that the franchise is thinking more about the long game rather than trying to push for a postseason berth in 2026. If Mendoza can help right the ship for Vegas, that would be viewed as a bonus, but the real focus will be on getting Mendoza some meaningful reps ahead of a 2027 season that will surely have some heightened expectations from the fanbase.
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