The Minnesota Vikings have acquired quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2027 third-round draft pick, according to multiple reports, in the blockbuster move of NFL trade deadline day. The deal was reported on Tuesday afternoon, hours before the league's 4 p.m. ET deadline, by ESPN's Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, and by Tom Pelissero of The Ringer.
Cousins, 38, returns to the franchise he led from 2018 to 2023, reuniting with head coach Kevin O'Connell, who coached him in Minnesota during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He is playing the 2026 season on a one-year deal worth $11.3 million, according to Spotrac, with club options for 2027 and 2028 that Minnesota is unlikely to exercise.
The move comes less than 24 hours after Minnesota's offense managed just 178 total yards in a 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, a performance that left the 6-2 Vikings searching for answers at quarterback. Minnesota had also been linked to Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, who is expected to remain with the Colts.
For Las Vegas, the trade clears the way for rookie Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, to take over as the starting quarterback, beginning with the Raiders' Week 10 game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Vikings had just $6.2 million in salary cap space, more than enough to absorb the remainder of Cousins' $1.3 million base salary. They face a quick turnaround with their new quarterback: they visit the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Nov. 15, at Lambeau Field.
