The Vikings’ Quarterback Crisis: Could a Kirk Cousins Reunion Be the Answer?
The 2025 Minnesota Vikings are in a full-blown quarterback spiral - and there’s no sugarcoating it. The offense has stalled, the QB room has been a revolving door of inconsistency, and the team’s once-promising outlook has turned into a weekly exercise in frustration.
Let’s start with J.J. McCarthy.
The rookie was supposed to be the future - but right now, he’s struggling to complete even the routine throws. His confidence looks rattled, and while the “Nine” nickname may have started as a branding effort, it’s now more meme than mantra.
The flashes of potential are there, but they’re buried under missed reads, off-target throws, and a collapsing pocket.
Then came Max Brosmer, a fan-favorite underdog who many hoped could be this year’s Brock Purdy. Instead, he delivered a nightmare performance against Seattle: four interceptions, including a brutal 84-yard pick-six on a fourth-and-one in the red zone. That’s the kind of moment that sticks - not in a good way.
And then there’s Carson Wentz. For a brief stretch, he was the most productive quarterback on the roster.
But even that version of Wentz was closer to a serviceable backup than a long-term answer. Now, he’s out for the season with a shoulder injury, leaving the Vikings with more questions than answers under center.
So... what now?
The Vikings are staring at a crossroads. Do they stay committed to McCarthy and hope he develops into the guy they drafted him to be?
Do they dip into a 2026 quarterback class that’s not exactly overflowing with elite talent? Names like Ty Simpson, Dante Moore, and Garrett Nussmeier could be in play - but none are sure things.
There’s also the possibility of a trade. Could Minnesota make a bold move for a younger, more proven QB like Kyler Murray?
Or maybe target a high-upside backup such as Anthony Richardson? Even someone like Mac Jones - a safer, high-floor option - might be worth a look if the price is right.
The front office, led by GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and cap wizard Rob Brzezinski, has options. But none are particularly easy or obvious.
And then there’s Kirk.
Yes, that Kirk Cousins.
The same quarterback who helped turn Justin Jefferson into a superstar. The same guy who, for all the criticism he took, brought stability and production to the position. Right now, Cousins is under contract with the Atlanta Falcons through 2028 - but the situation in Atlanta is far from settled.
Cousins is currently backing up Michael Penix Jr., and that’s not a role he’s likely to accept long-term. He’s made it clear he wants to start. And with one of the most influential agents in the league - Mike McCartney - in his corner, it’s fair to wonder how long he’ll stay content as a backup.
From Atlanta’s side, there’s incentive to keep Cousins around. Penix has had injury concerns, and Cousins is a high-level insurance policy.
But the financials get tricky. Cousins has a massive $57.5 million cap hit in 2026.
Cutting him in 2025 would be painful - but there’s a potential out in the deal that could lower the dead cap hit to $35 million this offseason. That number, while still steep, is more manageable - and if McCartney pushes for a release, Atlanta might just listen.
If Cousins hits the market, a Minnesota reunion suddenly makes a lot of sense.
He’d walk back into a familiar system under Kevin O’Connell. He’d have Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J.
Hockenson - weapons he knows how to use. The Vikings could position themselves as a playoff contender in 2026, while giving McCarthy a critical development year away from the spotlight.
It’s a win-win: Cousins gets to start, McCarthy gets to reset, and Jefferson gets a quarterback he trusts.
There’s also the long view. If the Vikings believe the 2027 quarterback class is stronger, they could use Cousins as a bridge while keeping their draft capital intact. No need to force a pick in a weak class just to say you did something.
But - and it’s a big but - this only works if Cousins becomes available. His current contract is a non-starter for a trade, and even if he were cut, Minnesota would need to bring him back on a team-friendly deal.
Would Adofo-Mensah be willing to reopen that chapter? Or is the organization ready to fully move on from the Cousins era?
What’s clear is this: the Vikings need quarterback production, and they need it fast.
No one on the current roster has shown enough to be handed the keys without competition. McCarthy may still be the future, but right now, he needs time, coaching, and patience - things the NFL rarely offers without a veteran in place to steady the ship.
And Cousins? He’s already proven he can do that in purple and gold.
Is a reunion inevitable? Not quite. But if Cousins hits free agency, and the Vikings are serious about getting back to contention, it’s a move that would check a lot of boxes.