Vikings Turn to Old Friend to Save the Offense, But Will it Work?

The Minnesota Vikings were the big story on NFL trade deadline day. Would they make a move to improve at quarterback? We had to wait but the news finally broke that the Vikings were turning to an old friend to save the offense after the disaster that we saw on Monday Night Football.

Vikings Turn to Old Friend to Save the Offense

All eyes were on first-year general manager Nolan Teasley as the Vikings’ hunt for a QB took center stage. Teasley delivered a reunion with Kirk Cousins at the expense of a third-round pick. It was probably the best move Minnesota could have made with this season’s short-term needs in mind. At 38, Cousins isn’t a long-term answer, but right now Teasley needed to focus on not wasting what the Vikings defense is doing.

Bringing in a QB halfway through the season is a difficult prospect but Cousins returns to the organization where he spent six seasons from 2018 through 2023. With the same head coach and play caller in Kevin O’Connell and a receiving group that still features Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson, Cousins is better equipped to fit in seamlessly than a QB coming in from the cold would be.

Cousins Has Been Enjoying a Resurgence in Las Vegas

After two years in Atlanta, Cousins was released by the Falcons with 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix ready to take over. He found a new home in Vegas with the same role, this time keeping the seat warm for Fernando Mendoza.

Cousins has started all nine games for the Raiders this season, completing 202 of 315 passes for 2,340 yards. In comparison, Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz have combined for just 1,379 passing yards this season. With 20 touchdown passes, Cousins ranks second in the NFL this season and has more than what Murray (5) and Wentz (3) have managed even if they’re total gets combined.

Those stats make it easy to see why Minnesota has made this move, but it’s just the stat line. Cousins has helped make the Raiders competitive again after just winning three and four games in the last two seasons. Las Vegas went 4-5 with Cousins starting and can now turn to their first-round rookie QB with a team that has more confidence than would have been the case at the start of the season.

For just a third-round pick, it’s not overly expensive for the Vikings, who still have a third-rounder in next year’s draft, and for the Raiders they add a decent draft pick and make a move that was going to happen anyway.

What to Expect From Cousins and the Vikings Offense

There is familiarity for Cousins in Minnesota but we should still expect there to be some settling-in time before the offense gets as good as it can be. The good news is he should be able to be an immediate upgrade on the extremely low bar that was set on Monday night. Cousins should be able to find the Vikings receivers, which will importantly put a smile back on Jefferson’s face but also Addison’s, who has become too much of an afterthought in the Vikings offense.

The apparent plan to run the ball more should still be in place. Jordan Mason only getting six carries while averaging 5.8 yards per rush against the Bills was serious game mismanagement from O’Connell. There should still be plenty of Mason, Aaron Jones, and fullback Max Bredeson on the field to give Minnesota a balanced offense and open up the explosive plays, which Cousins should be able to deliver.

Most importantly, the return of Cousins should give Vikings fans reason to be optimistic that the offense can now be functional enough to make this team a genuine playoff team that can make noise once they get there.