Vikings Bring Back Kirk Cousins From Raiders for a 2027 Third-Round Pick

The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to bring quarterback Kirk Cousins back from the Las Vegas Raiders, according to multiple reports on Tuesday. Minnesota sends Las Vegas its third-round pick in the 2027 draft.

NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported the deal, and Pro Football Talk, the USA Today network, the Akron Beacon Journal, the Indianapolis Star and the Detroit Free Press all reported the same terms. No team had announced the trade at the time of the reports. The deal came hours before the 2026 NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, November 10 at 4 p.m. ET.

Why Minnesota moved

The need became clear on Monday night. Minnesota lost 23-6 to the Buffalo Bills, and Carson Wentz, playing for an injured Kyler Murray, completed 8 of 25 passes for 81 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. His passer rating was 8.9, and he was benched for Max Brosmer.

Cousins joins a quarterbacks room that for now includes Murray and Wentz, according to the reports. Minnesota had also looked at Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, the Indianapolis Star reported, but Jones is likely to remain in Indianapolis.

Earlier, ESPN reporter Adam Schefter had said, as quoted by USA Today: "Vikings have identified Raiders QB Kirk Cousins as a prime trade candidate ahead of today's 4 pm ET deadline, per league sources. The clock is ticking to get a deal done." The deal was then reported done, with the first timestamped report at 2:38 p.m. ET.

What Cousins brings back

Cousins is 38. He joined the Vikings as a free agent in 2018 and spent six seasons in Minnesota, playing there from 2018 through 2023. He left as a free agent in 2024, played the 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, and signed with the Raiders earlier this year.

His season in Las Vegas was strong. Pro Football Talk reported that he led the Raiders to a 4-5 record and threw 20 touchdown passes with eight interceptions. TheScore, citing Schefter, put his totals at 2,340 passing yards, fifth in the NFL, and 20 passing touchdowns, second in the league, in nine games.

If the reports hold, his first game back would be on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, NBC Sports reported earlier on Tuesday.

What changes in Las Vegas

The Raiders, also 4-5, will turn the offense over to Fernando Mendoza, according to the reports. Mendoza was the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft. He now becomes the starter after Las Vegas traded away the veteran who had started its first nine games.

For Minnesota, the price is one third-round pick in 2027 for a quarterback who knows the team and the building. For Las Vegas, the return is a draft pick and a clear path for its rookie. Both sides made the call before the deadline closed.