The 2025 NFL regular season is in full swing, but trade chatter has only intensified in recent days. With several top starting quarterbacks sidelined by injuries, attention has once again shifted to veteran Kirk Cousins.
Since late in the 2024 season, Cousins has been backing up Michael Penix Jr. in Atlanta, but circumstances may finally be creating an opportunity for the four-time Pro Bowler.
Bengals, Vikings Among Top Landing Spots For Kirk Cousins
The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal in 2024, which included a $50 million signing bonus and $100 million guaranteed. Coming off a strong run with the Vikings, Atlanta had every reason to believe he would lead the franchise forward.
Instead, Cousins was benched as first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. quickly seized control of the offense. Since then, the Falcons have been eager to move on from him, and with quarterback injuries piling up across the league, teams may finally be compelled to make the call.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings opened the season in dramatic fashion, with rookie starter J.J. McCarthy leading a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback in Week 1 during Monday Night Football against the division rival Chicago Bears. But Week 2 told a different story, as McCarthy struggled and then went down with an injury.
Minnesota has ruled him out for Week 3 and turned to veteran Carson Wentz, but whether he can steady the ship remains uncertain. At 37, Cousins would still be an upgrade over Wentz, bringing both experience and valuable mentorship for McCarthy.
He’s also admitted he might never have left Minnesota if he’d known how things would unfold, keeping the door to a reunion slightly ajar. Still, with McCarthy’s injury not considered long-term and Cousins carrying a hefty price tag, the scenario feels unlikely.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals look like the most realistic landing spot for Cousins, given the severity of Joe Burrow’s Grade 3 turf toe injury. Burrow is expected to miss up to three months and may even require surgery, leaving third-year pro Jake Browning in charge.
The reported three-month return timeline for Joe Burrow is very optimistic. While there’s some hope since the turf toe is on his front foot, this type of injury is effectively season-ending. pic.twitter.com/akIDn2zCzo
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) September 15, 2025
Browning has some experience, going 4-3 as a starter in 2023, but his inconsistency remains a concern. Just last week against Jacksonville, he threw three costly interceptions, a reminder of the risks of leaning on him long term.
That’s where Cousins could help. He could immediately step in and elevate Cincinnati’s offense, distributing the ball to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins much like he once did with Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen in Minnesota. While his contract is a hurdle, the fit is hard to ignore if the Bengals want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns have been loosely linked to Cousins before, but their quarterback room is already crowded with names like Deshaun Watson and Joe Flacco. They also drafted rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, yet chose Flacco as the starter. The problem? The veteran remains winless, and fan frustration is growing.
With Sanders and Gabriel still raw and Watson struggling to stay healthy on the PUP list, Cleveland could consider another veteran option. But the Browns’ financial reality complicates things. Watson’s massive $230 million deal has already stretched the cap, making a move for Cousins highly difficult.
New Orleans Saints
Like Cleveland, the Saints endured an intense offseason quarterback battle before ultimately settling on second-year passer Spencer Rattler. The early returns haven’t been encouraging.
The Saints’ offense has sputtered to a 0-2 start, and while it’s premature to completely give up on Rattler, his 0-8 record as a starter speaks for itself. If the slide continues, rookie Tyler Shough could get a shot.
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That said, Shough didn’t inspire much confidence during offseason practices or preseason reps, leaving New Orleans in a bind. That’s where Cousins could enter the conversation, though his no-trade clause gives him the power to choose his destination. And right now, the Bengals and Vikings look like far more appealing options.
