Legendary former Minnesota Vikings running back Chuck Foreman knows a thing or two about winning. During his NFL career, Foreman helped the Vikings appear in the Super Bowl three times between 1973 and 1976.
In a recent episode of "The JimBob Sports Jam" podcast, Foreman shared his thoughts on how Minnesota's current regime can improve the team's quarterback situation before next season by bringing back an old friend in Kirk Cousins.
"I think with the weapons that we have and the maturity and the experience that [Cousins] has will give J.J. [McCarthy] the opportunity to sit back and watch a pro at work. [Cousins is] a consummate pro.
One thing about Kirk Cousins is he's prepared. He's going to be setting a good example of how to run a team. Plus, the situation, like he's [37], right? A couple years, J.J. [can return]. I mean, to me, that would be a good scenario.”
Kirk Cousins is a much better option for the Minnesota Vikings now than he was in 2024
Back during the 2024 offseason, Cousins was preparing to enter free agency and attempt to land what would likely end up being the final big-money contract of his NFL career.
Minnesota wanted to try to build a roster without a high-priced quarterback for the first time since they originally signed Cousins back in 2018. So, instead of giving him another lucrative, multi-year deal, they let him go meet with other teams, and it ultimately resulted in the Atlanta Falcons signing him to a contract worth $180 million.
Two years later, the Falcons have adjusted Cousins' contract in a way that will likely result in him getting released by the team before the start of free agency this offseason. If this happens, then the Vikings, or any other team around the NFL, will be able to sign him.
Despite Cousins being older (he'll be 38 in August) and even less mobile than he was even just two years ago, he's far from the worst option at quarterback for Minnesota to consider this offseason.
Not only does he already have experience running the Vikings' current offensive scheme under head coach Kevin O'Connell, but he's also going to cost a whole lot less than the last time he was on Minnesota's roster.
This past offseason, Russell Wilson, who is a few months younger than Cousins, signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants worth $10.5 million. That seems right around what it would probably cost the Vikings to sign Cousins this offseason, and it would be almost $20 million less than what they paid him in 2023.
It also depends on what the quarterback wants to do.
Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is dealing with a significant knee injury, and he likely won't be ready to play at the start of the 2026 season. So, maybe Cousins would just prefer to agree to a cheaper contract that would allow him and his family to remain in Atlanta for the remainder of his career, and he could at least get a few more starts next season.
Most probably assumed he was gone for good when he signed with the Falcons in 2024, but a Cousins reunion with Minnesota this offseason is actually one of the more believable possibilities for the team during the next few months.