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Vikings predicted to sign $180 million 4-time Pro Bowl quarterback to replace J.J. McCarthy originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Minnesota Vikings could move on from J.J. McCarthy this offseason in favor of a multiple-time Pro Bowl quarterback.
ESPN's Seth Walder predicts the Vikings will sign Kirk Cousins in free agency after he is released by the Atlanta Falcons at the start of the new league year.
"McCarthy's performance last season did not indicate he could deliver it. Given how Minnesota let its known quantity in Darnold walk out the door in favor of McCarthy, I suspect coach Kevin O'Connell will want to go back to known, solid production. And Cousins represents that," Walder wrote.
Cousins lost his starting spot in 2025 to Michael Penix Jr., but the 37-year-old did start eight games in place of Penix due to injury and posted a 5-3 record with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.
The Vikings will be looking for veteran competition for McCarthy, and Cousins would be the perfect fit. The four-time Pro Bowler started 88 games for Minnesota from 2018 to 2023, and had some of the best years of his career.
Additionally, Cousins should be cheap to sign on the open market. Minnesota is slated to be $43 million under the cap, so they can't afford to completely break the bank on a quarterback.
Though he's no longer a high-level starting signal-caller, Cousins can still be a difference-maker and serve as the Vikings' starting quarterback in 2026 if McCarthy doesn't show improvement.
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