Kirk Cousins Could Evidently Join the Dark Side
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is unemployed through two and a half weeks of free agency, and some believe he might join the dark side, also known as the Green Bay Packers.
The old Vikings quarterback may yet annoy Minnesota again.
That’s the latest and greatest theory from The Athletic this week. It’s not all that far-fetched.
Green Bay Shows Up in Cousins Chatter
Cousins would do himself no favors in the Minnesota court of public opinion.
The Athletic: Don’t Rule out GB for Cousins
Matt Schneidman of The Athletic sized up possible free-agent options for the Packers, and Cousins made the cut.
He explained, “Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love and Malik Willis have all been backup quarterbacks for the Packers. All three could be starting in the NFL come September. Green Bay really values the position, which might make it unlikely that Desmond Ridder or Kyle McCord — the only other quarterbacks on the roster besides Love — are in the No. 2 role come Week 1.”
“The idea of adding a proven veteran like Cousins, who can at least help the Packers tread water if Love goes down, might entice head coach Matt LaFleur. Cousins might (understandably) want to sign with a team whose starter is less entrenched than Love, but perhaps the idea of reuniting with his position coach from his first two years in the NFL (LaFleur) entices him, too.”
In addition to Ridder and McCord on the current depth chart, the Packers have also been whispered as a trade partner for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Mailk Willis Gone to MIA
The Packers might’ve employed the best backup quarterback in football last year, and when that happens, other teams come knocking the following offseason, especially if the man is young. That happened to Green Bay, and the Miami Dolphins scooped Willis from free agency. Willis was also considered a Vikings quarterback solution by fans this offseason before Minnesota landed Kyler Murray for 1.3 million bucks.
Willis to Miami made all the sense in the world because the Dolphins hired an executive from the Packers front office as the new general manager: Jon-Eric Sullivan. And Miami snatched Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as its head coach to replace Mike McDaniel, who landed in Los Angeles with the Chargers as an offensive coordinator.
Therefore, it’s Willis out in Green Bay, and apparently someone like Cousins in.
Shanahan Tree Coaches Just Love Cousins
Of course, Cousins to Green Bay should not come as an utter shock to hardcore NFL fans. The Packers’ skipper, Matt LaFleur, came up in Washington as a young coach in the branches of the Mike Shanahan coaching tree, and from Shanahan’s son, Kyle, to Kevin O’Connell, to Sean McVay — all have spoken glowingly of Cousins. They love the guy.
They helped mold him with the Commanders, and Cousins’s efficient style makes their offenses hum.
LaFleur was the Commanders’ quarterbacks coach from 2010 to 2013, helping Cousins get his career off the ground amid RGIII Mania. Cousins signing in Green Bay would feel like a full-circle career moment.
Dairyland Express‘s Chris Schad on the Cousins-GB angle: “Even if the Packers appear to be the option, Cousins could decline the chance to be a backup and jump at the chance to take a broadcasting job. NBC could be an option after dropping Tony Dungy from its coverage earlier this offseason but Cousins already has gotten positive reviews for his previous work with CBS and ESPN.”
“Those hurdles make it seem unlikely that Cousins will be willing to back up Love in 2026. But if McCord and Ridder both fail to claim the job, the Packers may be one of the best opportunities on the market even without a starting job available. With the chance to fill the open spot in his memorabilia room reserved for a Lombardi Trophy, he may be willing to bend and join the Packers if his free agent tour drags on into the summer.”
Steelers, Raiders in Play for Cousins
Meanwhile, Cousins isn’t employed at the moment, but teams like the Las Vegas Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly have him on their radar. The Raiders will presumably draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in four weeks, and some NFL media members have hinted that Las Vegas could sign Cousins as a bridge to Mendoza if Mendoza isn’t ready for Week 1.
Too, in Pittsburgh, Aaron Rodgers has not made a decision about his future, and if he ultimately retires, well, the Steelers would need a quarterback, and Cousins is available.
The Raiders have the former coach angle in play like LaFleur in Green Bay. Las Vegas’s new head skipper, Klint Kubiak, offensively coordinated Cousins in Minnesota.
Cousins will turn 38 later this summer.
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