Now that the dust is settling on the idea of Aaron Rodgers becoming the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in 2025, it's time to shift the team's focus to finding a veteran passer for the team to act as a backup for J.J. McCarthy.
There are still some solid options available in free agency. Joe Flacco, Jameis Winston, Carson Wentz, and others are still waiting to be signed but it would be hard to have this conversation without talking about Kirk Cousins.
Recent reports are that the Atlanta Falcons are looking for a trade partner for Cousins but may have difficulty finding one with his current age and contract as well as his disappointing play last season. To add more drama to the situation, his no-trade clause means he would need to agree to whatever deal Atlanta could find.
This challenge could lead to the Falcons having to release the veteran quarterback and eat a huge amount of his guaranteed money. If that happens, he would be able to sign anywhere as a free agent, opening the door for him to return to the Vikings.
The Minnesota Vikings should not attempt to bring Kirk Cousins back for 2025
Kirk Cousins will turn 37 years old this year and is entering his 14th season in the NFL. He spent six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings where he led the team to 50 wins, 37 losses, and one tie. His familiarity with the team would be a huge benefit and his experience could help J.J. McCarthy to learn and evolve as a quarterback.
However, Cousins may still be looking for a starting role and starting quarterback money if he is released by Atlanta. The Vikings should not be willing to open their wallets that wide or open the door for any possible challenge for McCarthy's spot.
Cousins is slated to be on the second season of Netflix's Quarterback series along with Joe Burrow and Jared Goff. It will be interesting to see if anything other than recovering from his Achilles tendon injury caused his struggles in Atlanta.
Last year, Cousins threw a career-high 16 interceptions in 14 games and finished with a 7-7 record as a starter. He will likely be hungry to prove that his play last season is not representative of his play at quarterback, meaning a backup role might not be enough for him.
When looking at the potential price tag and the future of J.J. McCarthy, going after Kirk Cousins if he is released doesn't make a lot of sense for a team looking ahead to the future. That's why the 2025 NFL season needs to be all about their first-round investment in McCarthy and building a competitive roster for the future.