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Falcons and former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was a strong candidate to be traded from the Atlanta Falcons, with several dubious quarterback situations around the NFL.
However, the most pressing of them all just dismissed Cousins as a possibility.
On Tuesday, October 7, the Cincinnati Bengals filled their need for a capable starting quarterback with Joe Burrow out, opting to trade for Cleveland Browns veteran Joe Flacco. Cousins, currently a backup behind Michael Penix, was a common name in the rumor mill with the trade deadline still a month away.
The Bengals (2-3) could not afford to wait any longer after dropping a third consecutive game with Jake Browning as their starter, but Cousins appears not to have factored into Cincinnati’s decision.
Cousins has fallen from grace since leaving the Vikings in 2024 free agency. He signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons but lost the starting job last season to Penix.
Penix is coming off his first game throwing for 300 or more passing yards as the 2024 first-round pick is finding his footing in the NFL.
Cousins’ contract remains a deterrent for potential trade suitors. The NFL trade deadline is slated for November 4 at 4 p.m. ET.
“Right now, it’s just about the role I’m in, and focused on helping us win football games a being ready for the next challenges we face. I’ll stay sharp, and you never know what the league will bring,” Cousins said ahead of the trade deadline.
Vikings’ NFC Rival Could Be New Landing Spot for Kirk Cousins
The Bengals and Browns had two of the most precarious quarterback situations before the Flacco trade and were considered top landing spots for Cousins.
While the Bengals seem set until Burrow returns, Cleveland is moving forward with Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Deshaun Watson, currently on the physically unable to perform list, is also eligible to return to practice. Cleveland doesn’t have the cap room to have both Watson and Cousins on the roster.
However, there is a destination that could become intriguing in the coming weeks.
The New Orleans Saints have a high-powered offense that Spencer Rattler has not exploited to its full potential. Rattler has lost four straight games, and while he has shown some improvement, he is coming off a game where he completed a season-low 58.7% of his passes.
Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is putting plenty of work on Rattler, who ranks fifth in pass attempts this season, to see what he has in the second-year quarterback.
But if Rattler can’t improve, Cousins could prove to be a viable rental for the 2025 season, the final year of guarantees on his contract.
Vikings Appear to Be Nearing Final Decision on JJ McCarthy
As J.J. McCarthy is nearing a return to full health, the Vikings must decide whether they pivot back to the young quarterback or keep Carson Wentz as their starter.
McCarthy seems poised to take back his starting job, given he wasn’t given a fair shake behind a patchwork offensive line to begin the season. However, how long of a leash he will have to lead a team that is ready to win now remains to be seen.
It isn’t a non-zero chance that if McCarthy struggles again the Vikings might pull the plug and pivot back to Wentz or pursue a trade to rent a veteran for a playoff push.
Trevor Squire is a sports journalist covering the NFL and NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks. Trevor studied journalism at the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities, making stops at the Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. You can reach him at trevor.squire@heavy.com and follow him on Twitter @trevordsquire. More about Trevor Squire
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