The Minnesota Vikings enter the final hours before Tuesday’s trade deadline with phones active and options open, but not in a way that signals a splash move at quarterback. The framework, per an NFL insider’s read, is exploratory calls and contingency planning while a young quarterback room continues to develop, and while other roster needs remain in play.
Latest On Kirk Cousins’ Status Ahead of NFL Trade Deadline
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero outlined the Vikings’ posture as general manager Kwesi Adofo‑Mensah “always working the phones,” gauging opportunities to add or move players and bank future draft capital. The emphasis is not on a blockbuster at quarterback.
“In terms of the big swing moves, I don’t see them going out and making a massive type of acquisition. But if there’s an edge that’s available that makes sense, I could see them having interest in that market. If there’s a quarterback, a veteran, and I’m not talking about the guy in Atlanta,” Pelissero said.
He added a direct read on a reunion with Falcons QB Kirk Cousins: “Right now, I don’t believe that they’re going to go out and get Kirk Cousins and try to have him ride back in, even though I believe that he’d be very open to coming back, even as the No. 2. I don’t get that sense.”
The context for that stance is Minnesota’s current depth chart and development track: “You’ve got a very young room right now with J.J. McCarthy, Max Brosmer, and then they just signed John Wolford to come in on the practice squad… much like Carson Wentz was. I could see them being open to that. But again, at this point, I would not say anything is down the road.”
The bottom line from Pelissero’s view is clear — Minnesota is calling widely, but not plotting a Cousins acquisition as the deadline approaches.
Does a Possible Kirk Cousins‑Vikings Reunion Make Sense?
From a fit perspective, Pelissero’s read narrows the practical window. Minnesota’s quarterback plan centers on McCarthy’s development with experienced support, not a headline reunion in November. The operating priorities ahead of the deadline include monitoring injuries that can “completely change the calculus” and weighing targeted upgrades when market prices align, notably edge help if it’s available at a reasonable cost.
That aligns with a broader competitive landscape in which multiple playoff‑mix teams are “targeting a receiver, targeting edge, targeting corner.” For the Vikings, the calculus mixes near‑term utility with longer‑term roster building and draft positioning. Within that framework, a veteran backup addition is plausible if it raises room experience and day‑to‑day support for McCarthy without disrupting the trajectory.
A higher‑impact quarterback swing, specifically for Cousins, doesn’t match the current stance — Pelissero reiterated that he “doesn’t get the sense” Minnesota will pursue it, even while acknowledging Cousins’ openness to the idea in a secondary role.
As the deadline hits, Minnesota’s approach remains deliberate. Keep phones warm, stay flexible for position‑specific opportunities, and avoid a move that undercuts the plan at quarterback. That posture reflects both market realities and internal priorities, with evaluation continuing across edge, receiver, and corner while the quarterback room adds seasoned hands rather than headline names.