Grading the Vikings Trade for Kirk Cousins - The Ideal Fit

Charlie Zschau Updated: 28 minutes ago

The Minnesota Vikings have been linked to a quarterback all season, and with a few hours before the deadline closed, sealed a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders for Kirk Cousins.

The Minnesota Vikings (6-2) have gotten off to an impressive start this season thanks to their incredible defense, but the offense struggled significantly with Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz at quarterback. Minnesota has a Super Bowl caliber roster, but the quarterback play has not been at the level they need.

To address this, the team has completed a trade for their former quarterback Kirk Cousins just ahead of the NFL trade deadline. The 38-year-old signal caller had spent six years in Minnesota earlier in his career (2018-2023), and now finds himself back on the roster as the hopeful savior of Kevin O'Connell's offense.

Kirk Cousins to the Vikings Trade Details

MIN Vikings Receive	QB Kirk Cousins
LV Raiders Receive	2027 3rd Round Pick (MIN)

The Vikings are acquiring the veteran quarterback in exchange for Minnesota's third-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

By trading Cousins before the 2027 league year, Las Vegas avoids a fully guaranteed $10 million roster bonus due to him next season.

Vikings, Kirk Cousins Trade Grade

Vikings: A

The Vikings have genuine Super Bowl aspirations this season, and they are clearly going all-in with Cousins to make that a reality. Minnesota desperately needed a steady hand at quarterback for the remainder of the season, and Cousins immediately elevates the team's offensive floor with his ability to stretch the field through the air.

A third-round pick does nothing to help the team this year, but trading for Cousins certainly does.

Raiders: A

The Las Vegas Raiders (4-5) have been very average this season with Cousins at quarterback, but are clearly building for a future centered around Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza was the No. 1 Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but has only appeared in one game this season during the fourth quarter in a blowout loss against the New England Patriots.

With Cousins now departed, the door is open for the coaching staff to evaluate what Mendoza can offer as they look ahead to next year. Furthermore, the addition of another third-round pick gives the Raiders long-term asset value that outweighs Cousins' short-term contributions.

Who benefits the most from the Kirk Cousins trade?

In a very rare occurrence, both teams drastically benefit from a midseason trade. The biggest winner though is clearly All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

Jefferson is one of the most talented wide receivers in the NFL, but the Vikings quarterbacks the past two seasons have turned him into an after thought. Even at 38-years-old, Cousins has the ability to get the star wide receiver back involved in the offense.

In the four seasons that Jefferson played with Cousins (2020-2023), the wideout racked up 5,899 receiving yards (98.3 yards per game) and 30 touchdowns. He was named the Offensive Player of the Year and led the NFL in receiving yards (1,809 yards) in 2022. Cousins also helped Jefferson become the fastest player in NFL history to reach 5,000 receiving yards, doing so in just 52 games.

Another beneficiary of the Cousins trade is Cousins himself. With retirement looming in the not-too-distant future, this deal lands him on a competitive roster where he has a legitimate opportunity to compete for a Super Bowl ring before he retires.