The Minnesota Vikings face several options at quarterback after this season, one of which could involve revisiting a familiar face.
Sam Darnold has been a surprising success this year, largely due to his value on a $10 million contract. Minnesota originally brought him in because former starter Kirk Cousins priced himself out of their range by signing a $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
However, Darnold’s performance has increased his market value, and he is projected to earn $36 million annually on a new four-year contract starting in 2025. Meanwhile, the Falcons announced this week that they are benching Cousins in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 overall pick. Ironically, after just one year of swapping quarterbacks, Darnold may now be too expensive for the Vikings in the long term, especially with the No. 10 overall pick, J.J. McCarthy, waiting to step in. In contrast, Cousins could become a much more affordable backup option for McCarthy, if he takes over the starting role next season.
A potential reunion with Cousins in Minnesota would likely resemble how the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired Russell Wilson for the league minimum of $1.2 million during the offseason. However, the Vikings are unlikely to trade for Cousins due to the significant cap hit it would incur in 2025. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter pointed out, if the Falcons cut Cousins before the start of the 2025 league year, they would be responsible for $65 million in dead money.
If they trade him, the acquiring team would assume his $27.5 million base salary guarantee, leaving the Falcons on the hook for $37.5 million in prorated salary. Given these financial constraints, it would be more practical for Minnesota to extend Darnold for just $10 million more annually than to pay Cousins $27.5 million as a backup.
SAM DARNOLD
Another option for Minnesota would be to franchise tag Darnold for about $40 million in 2025, allowing him to start one more year while McCarthy serves as his backup. The Vikings could also try to trade Darnold for substantial value during the offseason or before the regular season deadline.
On the other hand, the Falcons would likely prefer to trade Cousins to minimize the financial burden of his contract. But after a poor stretch of play, including a 1-4 record and only 1 touchdown against 9 interceptions, it’s uncertain which team would be willing to trade for him at his current price.
The most likely scenario for a Cousins-Vikings reunion would be if the Falcons release him next year. In that case, the Vikings could swoop in and sign him for the league minimum, as the Falcons would still owe him $40 million in 2025. Minnesota would pay Cousins only $1.2 million, with Atlanta covering the remaining $38.8 million.
If the Vikings don’t bring back Darnold or opt not to, they will likely look for a veteran quarterback to either back up McCarthy or fill in for part or all of 2025 while McCarthy develops. Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler with three selections in the last six years as Minnesota’s starter, would be an ideal option.
The only potential obstacles to a Cousins reunion would be if Darnold returns on a large extension or if other teams offer Cousins the chance to compete for a starting job. If those hurdles don’t materialize, the Vikings could bring Cousins back as a backup or mentor to McCarthy in 2025.
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