The quarterback situation will be the most talked-about topic for the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, and everyone seems to have an opinion on what the Vikings should do to ensure the 2026 NFL season isn't a replay of what happened in 2025.
Many of those opinions can be pushed to the side, but every once in a while, a prominent figure who is passionate about the Vikings comes along and has very strong feelings about a possible direction the franchise could go with the position.
Minnesota Vikings legend John Randle doesn't think a reunion with quarterback Kirk Cousins is a good idea.
During a recent appearance on the Purple Daily podcast, Hall of Fame defensive lineman John Randle was asked about the quarterback situation that the Minnesota Vikings are in heading into the 2026 NFL season.
While Randle did talk about young quarterback J.J. McCarthy, he seemed heavily against the Vikings signing former Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins if he is released by the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.
“We’ve been down that road before. No. We want to move on from you… You have what, maybe one playoff game? I want more.”
While an established player like Kirk Cousins or Derek Carr would be a different scenario for the purple and gold this season, the legendary Vikings defender doesn't see either passer as a player who can help the team make the Super Bowl.
Carr has played in one playoff game in his NFL career and lost that Wild Card game to the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2021 NFL season. If he does come out of retirement, it would be interesting to see if he could have more success in Minnesota.
On the other hand, Cousins has won a playoff game, but only one. In his five playoff appearances, he only managed to lead his team to one win: a Wild Card victory over the New Orleans Saints during the 2019 season.
Right now, the Minnesota Vikings have to be among the most desirable teams for a quarterback this offseason. Despite not having a lot of salary cap room and a lot of roster needs to be filled, a solid quarterback could be a game-changer for the Vikings.
Even though John Randle doesn't like the idea of Kirk Cousins or Derek Carr joining the Minnesota Vikings, they are both still possibilities to wear a purple and gold jersey during the 2026 NFL season.