The Minnesota Vikings will have a familiar veteran starting quarterback in Week 10 at Green Bay. The Las Vegas Raiders will have a much-anticipated rookie quarterback in Week 10 vs. Seattle.
That’s the immediate result of the Vikings trading for Kirk Cousins. While Cousins gets traded back to Minnesota, where he played six seasons from 2018-2023, 2026 No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza will finally get a shot to start as a Raiders rookie.
Las Vegas was smart to change its stance under coach Klint Kubiak and GM John Spytek and move Cousins with its AFC playoff chances fading fast at 4-5. Meanwhile, the Vikings, on a two-game losing skid at 6-2, can get back on track offensively after falling to third place in the tough NFC North.
Cousins became a needed Tuesday trade deadline acquisition after Carson Wentz melted down in a poor losing performance vs. the Bills at home on Monday. Here’s a breakdown of both sides of the deal:
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Kirk Cousins trade grades
Vikings receive:
Raiders receive:
- 2027 third-round draft pick
Vikings grade: A+
Cousins should be playing immediately well in his ideal pocket-passing system after thriving in nine games reunited with Kubiak. Although Cousins played his best as a Viking when Klint Kubiak, Gary Kubiak and Kevin Stefanski were the offensive coordinators, he also thrived in short order when O’Connell took over play-calling as coach in 2022.
The Vikings couldn’t compete to win Super Bowl 61 with either Wentz or a healthy Kyler Murray at quarterback. They were well behind division foes with a major deficit at the position in relation to how well the Packers‘ Jordan Love, Lions‘ Jared Goff and Bears‘ Caleb Williams are playing in the NFC North, the NFL’s best division.
By adding Cousins, the Vikings are envisioning being this year’s Seahawks. Last year, former Viking Sam Darnold helped them win a Super Bowl with plenty of support from a dominant defense and one elite wide receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Minnesota is dreaming of the same scenario with Cousins playing again with Justin Jefferson to take much of the winning burden off the pressure-dominant defense under Brian Flores.
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Raiders grade: A-
The Raiders might have been able to milk more out of Minnesota given how desperate the Vikings were after watching Wentz melt down against the Bills. But they also seemed eager to turn the page to Mendoza and settled for a third-round pick.
That’s the only knock on Las Vegas recognizing their rebuilding season and wanting to look at Mendoza for at least a half-season as a rookie to help him build some experience and confidence in Year 2. The Vikings making a move for now helped the Raiders accelerate into their true feature by flipping a 38-year-old bridge QB.
