It started in early March, when NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah put it out there, and then clarified the context under which he offered it. Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune kept the door open more recently, as the Minnesota Vikings remain in the market for a veteran quarterback.
On Wednesday, Dianna Russini of The Athletic named Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins as a player who could be traded during the upcoming NFL Draft, with some additional notes.
"The Browns, Steelers and possibly Vikings could be involved in a Cousins trade. Minnesota is looked at as the least likely scenario, given its preference for J.J. McCarthy and that Cousins would need to sign off on any trade he is involved in. It’s believed that Cousins would be against any trade that involves sending him to a situation involving a young QB, similar to the situation he faced in Atlanta last year. If a trade were to happen, I’d expect it to go down on Saturday."
It's no surprise that Cousins doesn't want to have a repeat of what happened to him last year, when the Falcons drafted Michael Penix No. 8 overall right after signing him.
But there's a different dynamic with Minnesota. He has history there. The reason for his departure in free agency last offseason wasn't due to any great animosity between the two sides. It was just time for the Vikings to reset with a young quarterback, and Atlanta was ready to pony up and pay him.
Earlier this week, in light of his report the Falcons want a team that trades for Cousins to pay $20 million of his salary for 2025, ESPN's Adam Schefter named Minnesota and the Pittsburgh Steelers as two teams who might be willing to pay down some of the money Cousins is owed ($10 million).
On Wednesday, Atlanta general manager Terry Fontenot refuted the idea that other teams have been asked to pay $20-plus million of Cousins' salary.
Cousins has the power of a no-trade clause in his pocket, and the Falcons seem to be preparing to move him. It feels like a matter of time before he's gone, even if it's not during the draft.
What a Minnesota Vikings trade for Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins could look like
Before the fresh update on the possibility Cousins is traded during the draft, Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report recently offered some realistic trade packages the Falcons should consider. One of course involved the Vikings, and here's what it looks like.
We know the Vikings are proceeding with McCarthy as their starter, but Davenport acknowledged how generally awkward it could be for Cousins to come back.
"Sure, it could be awkward to see Cousins return to the Twin Cities. And it’s not known if the Vikes might view Cousins as a mentor to McCarthy or legitimate competition to start.
"The Vikings view themselves as contenders after winning 14 games last year. Entering the 2025 season with a completely unproven quarterback and no Plan B behind him is a risk."
Davenport's trade proposal really boils down to Cousins for a fifth-round pick next year, plus however much of his $27.5 million salary for this year the Vikings would take on.
A return to Minnesota wouldn't be Cousins' first choice, as he eyes any possible opportunity to start somewhere. But if the Vikings have interest and the few options he has reduce even more, a reunion sits in the "never say never" category right now.