Vikings Acquire Kirk Cousins in Trade with Raiders to Boost Offense

Vikings Bring Back Veteran Quarterback

The Minnesota Vikings have completed a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders to bring back veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. The deal sends a third-round pick to the Raiders, reuniting Cousins with head coach Kevin O’Connell. This move comes as the Vikings' offense has managed only 11 touchdowns this season, struggling significantly with quarterback play since the start of the 2025 season.

Cousins, 38, previously played under O'Connell in 2022, leading the Vikings to a 13-4 record with 4,547 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. His presence notably benefited wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who earned Offensive Player of the Year honors that season. Cousins was also performing strongly in 2023 before an Achilles tear ended his season.

The acquisition is intended to provide a much-needed boost to an offense that has been hampered by injuries and ineffective play from quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz. Despite his age and a recent Achilles injury, Cousins has demonstrated his ability to perform, throwing multiple touchdowns in seven of his nine starts with the Raiders this season.

His familiarity with O'Connell's offensive scheme is expected to allow the Vikings to expand their playbook and improve efficiency, particularly in pre-snap adjustments and exploiting defensive coverages. While postseason success has been challenging for Cousins, the 6-2 Vikings are looking to his experience to stabilize their unit and make a playoff push this year.

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The immediate focus will be on how quickly Cousins can re-integrate into the Vikings' offense and establish chemistry with key playmakers like Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson.