Former NFL coach Jon Gruden has floated a familiar idea: the Minnesota Vikings should go get Kirk Cousins.
Gruden made the case on “The Gruden Family Football Show,” arguing that a second-round pick could be enough to pry Cousins away from the Raiders. He also tied the discussion to Philadelphia, saying, “If I’m Philadelphia, knowing Jalen Hurts is out for the year, if I’m the Vikings and we know Cousins in Minnesota better than anybody, I’m going to offer the Raiders a second-round draft choice. If I get Kirk Cousins in Philly or I get Kirk Cousins in Minnesota, we can win the Super Bowl this year with the defense,” Gruden said.
Not everybody is buying it. “Bring Me the Sports” pushed back, noting that Cousins has been productive, but that he doesn’t bring the same mobility as Murray, something they pointed to as a problem for Vikings teams that were knocked out in the first round by Giants and Rams teams that controlled the line of scrimmage.
The reaction from fans on X was mixed, too. One person wrote, “Loved having Kirk here; but trading BACK for him after we let him leave and traded his replacement away, is too much like a cat chasing its tail,” while another said, “Take so bad they need to check his email again.”
Cousins spent 2018 through 2023 with the Vikings. Since joining the Raiders at the start of the 2026-27 season, he has thrown 14 touchdown passes, completed almost 64% of his throws and averaged 263 yards per game.
In Other News...
Vikings Gave Caleb Williams A Reality Check Bears Fans Hate
Rainy games at Soldier Field have a way of turning pretty football arguments into ugly ones, and Week 2 was no exception. The Vikings came away with a 9-3 win over the Bears, leaning on a defense that made Chicago work for everything and turned the game into the kind of slog that can frustrate both sides just as much as it flatters the winner.
For Bears fans, though, the lingering frustration has been less about the scoreboard than the setting. Some have pointed to the conditions and a handful of missed scoring chances as reason to question how much the result should really count, even as Minnesotas defensive effort deserves plenty of credit on its own. The debate has only added another layer to a rivalry game that already felt like a referendum on how much patience Chicago has left for Caleb Williams and the offense around him. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Could Eye A Major Backfield Upgrade Before The Deadline
The trade deadline chatter around Saquon Barkley has put a spotlight on a few teams that could use a backfield jolt, and Minnesota is firmly in that mix. The Vikings have reason to at least take the phone call seriously, especially with the way their run game has looked and the uncertainty hanging over their current rotation.
Aaron Jones has not provided the same production he once did, and Jordan Mason is dealing with a fractured thumb, which leaves the Vikings in a spot where help would make sense. If Philadelphia were ever willing to move Barkley, Minnesota could be one of the more aggressive teams watching closely, even if the price and timing still make this a situation to monitor rather than a done deal. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Backfield Move Just Put A Bigger Possibility In Play
The Vikings made a roster adjustment before facing the Colts, releasing DeeJay Dallas to clear the way for Jordan Mason to come off injured reserve. It was the kind of backfield move teams make this time of year, but it also gave Minnesota a little more clarity heading into a matchup where the ground game will matter, especially with Mason returning and the Vikings looking to settle in around their current rotation.
At the same time, the broader running back picture around Indianapolis has a way of keeping Minnesota in the conversation. Jonathan Taylor remains under contract after his extension with the Colts, and while there is no indication a deal is imminent, the Vikings have been floated as a possible destination if circumstances ever change. The connection is worth watching because Colts interim general manager Ed Dodds has ties to Vikings GM Nolan Teasley, a thread that could matter if the situation around Taylor ever turns into something more than background noise. [Read more 🡒]