EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings have reacquired quarterback Kirk Cousins in a trade with the Raiders, sending a 2027 third-round pick to Las Vegas, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
With the trade, 2026 No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza is now poised to take over as the Raiders’ starting quarterback, beginning this week in a home contest against the Seattle Seahawks. Aidan O’Connell will be Mendoza’s backup.
The Vikings have lost consecutive games after a 6-2 start, with their offense managing only 19 points over that stretch. Their defense and special teams rank among the NFL’s best, however, and team decision-makers were determined to optimize their chances at a playoff run.
Cousins played for the Vikings from 2018 to ’23, and the Vikings have been unable to find a permanent replacement since his departure to the Atlanta Falcons via free agency in the spring of 2024. The deal comes less than 24 hours after veteran Carson Wentz turned in the worst performance by a Vikings quarterback since 2006, compiling a 2.3 QBR while completing 8 of 25 passes for 81 yards while committing three turnovers.
Wentz was playing for presumed starter Kyler Murray, who missed Monday night’s game because of a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Murray, who signed a one-year contract with the Vikings this spring, has struggled in his own right and ranks No. 27 in QBR (45.7).
Cousins, 38, played two seasons for Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota (2022-23) and was a Pro Bowl selection in ’22 when he threw for 4,547 yards with 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. In 2023, he started eight games before suffering a torn Achilles in a game against the Green Bay Packers.
Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson enjoyed his finest season in 2022 while playing with Cousins, setting career bests with 128 catches and 1,809 yards, which both led the NFL. He also had eight touchdown catches and led the NFL with 106.4 receiving yards per game.
Cousins has rebounded from two years of struggles brought on by his recovery from a torn Achilles to throw 20 touchdown passes this season for the Raiders, second-most in the NFL.
The team’s handling of the position since Cousins’ departure contributed heavily to the firing of former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January, and it is threatening to swamp O’Connell and new general manager Nolan Teasley.
The Vikings have had eight quarterbacks start a game since then, and this week would mark the 15th time their starter has changed from one week of a season to another if Wentz does not play against the Packers.
At one point in the 2024 season, the Vikings had three former first-round draft picks on their roster: Sam Darnold, J.J. McCarthy and Daniel Jones. But Darnold and Jones both departed as free agents after the season, believing the Vikings would soon commit to McCarthy, but the Vikings gave up on McCarthy this summer after only 10 starts and 253 career pass attempts.
Darnold helped the Seattle Seahawks to victory in Super Bowl LX last season. Jones was in the MVP conversation with the Indianapolis Colts before tearing his right Achilles tendon last season, and McCarthy has led the New York Giants to wins in his first two starts since the Vikings traded him for a fifth-round pick in September.
Since the start of the 2025 season, the Vikings have the NFL’s second-worst team QBR (36.3).
Cousins was a placeholder at starting quarterback for the Raiders until Mendoza was ready. The Raiders selected Mendoza with the hope that he can become their franchise quarterback, adding stability at the position for the foreseeable future. He showcased the potential to fill that role during his lone season at Indiana.
However, the Raiders understood they had to be patient with Mendoza’s adjustment to the next level. That’s why Cousins was named the starting quarterback to begin training camp. He exceeded expectations, throwing for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine starts. He completed 64.1% of his passes and finished with a 98 passer rating.
ESPN’s Ryan McFadden contributed to this report.
