The Vikings had an impressive bounce-back season in year three under head coach Kevin O’Connell. After a disappointing 7-10 record two years ago, they doubled their win total in 2024. What made their success even more remarkable was that, in the previous offseason, they lost star quarterback Kirk Cousins to free agency and their first-round draft pick, JJ McCarthy, suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason.
Despite these setbacks, 2018 draft bust Sam Darnold surprisingly stepped up. In his seventh NFL season, and playing for his fourth team, the former first-round pick thrived under O’Connell, having a career year in Minnesota. However, just like the previous offseason, the Vikings are once again losing a Pro Bowl-caliber QB to free agency.
As the 2025 season approaches, there’s been plenty of speculation about who will start for the Vikings. Currently, McCarthy is the frontrunner, despite recovering from a torn meniscus. There has also been talk that Green Bay Packers legend Aaron Rodgers could be in play. But on Tuesday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter proposed a bold, unexpected idea for a veteran QB that no one had considered.
“How about this? Minnesota missed out on Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones. There’s no clear solution. What if the Vikings wait until after the draft and find a way to bring Kirk Cousins back as the backup to JJ McCarthy?” Schefter suggested on The Pat McAfee Show. “Doesn’t that make sense? The Falcons likely want to recoup something for the guy they paid so much for. Maybe Minnesota offers a sixth-round pick.”
Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million deal, left the Vikings for the Atlanta Falcons in free agency last year after six seasons and three Pro Bowl appearances.
Despite his struggles after suffering a ruptured Achilles, Cousins remains one of the best quarterbacks in Vikings history, and if anyone could get more out of him, it would be O’Connell. While he’d be a pricey backup, Cousins would be one of the best in the league, and the Vikings could potentially get out of most of his contract after this season.
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