The Minnesota Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy in the 2024 NFL Draft to be the successor to Kirk Cousins, who signed with the Atlanta Falcons a month earlier. McCarthy is expected to take over as the starting quarterback in 2025, but the team currently lacks a reliable backup. Cousins, who was benched in Atlanta for 2024 first-rounder Michael Penix Jr., is reportedly interested in leaving the Falcons — and a return to Minnesota could be a logical fit.
Former New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini suggested on FS1’s First Things First that Cousins would be an ideal safety net behind McCarthy.
“I’d expect them to bring in a backup they believe can win games if something happens to J.J. McCarthy,” Mangini said.
It’s unclear what it would take to trade for Cousins, who’s under a four-year, $180 million contract that includes $100 million guaranteed and a $40 million cap hit in 2025. Atlanta has expressed a willingness to keep him as a backup, but if Minnesota can strike a deal where the Falcons absorb much of the cost, it could be a great move.
Cousins played well during his tenure in Minnesota and is familiar with the offensive system. He’ll also be another year removed from his Achilles injury suffered in October 2023. If needed, Cousins could keep the Vikings offense competitive, and as last season showed, having a dependable backup quarterback could be the difference between a playoff run and another 7-10 finish.
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