The trade deadline is almost here, and one of the biggest moves of the day was the Minnesota Vikings acquiring Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders.
Trade: The Raiders are trading QB Kirk Cousins to the Vikings, per @rapsheet and me. pic.twitter.com/7Hxjt6TyR5
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 10, 2026
If it wasn’t obvious before Monday night, Carson Wentz let the entire Vikings organization know he does not have what it takes to lead an NFL team anymore. With the top-ranked defense in the NFL, Minnesota needed to find an upgrade, and they did by reuniting with the man who led them for six years in the prime of his career.
Following that time, Cousins signed with the Falcons in free agency, a move he likely immediately regretted when Atlanta turned around and drafted Michael Penix Jr. 8th overall just a few weeks later. Both quarterbacks seemed uncomfortable in their two seasons together, and the Falcons couldn’t have handled the situation any worse.
Ultimately, Cousins was released this past offseason and signed with the Raiders. Now he joins a legitimate Super Bowl contender, a team the Falcons will travel to face following their bye week — a matchup that just got a whole lot tougher.
Brian Flores loves to bring pressure more than any other defensive coach in football. The Falcons’ offensive line has not done a great job picking up blitzes this year, and Penix is far and away the worst quarterback in the league when pressured. It’s no secret how to stop Atlanta’s offense. Make Penix uncomfortable, and you can basically guarantee yourself a punt or turnover.
It was always going to be a long day in that regard, and Cousins now gives the Vikings some legitimate hope offensively. He’s had a really nice year with the Raiders this season, completing 64.1% of his passes and throwing for 20 touchdowns. Just as they were in Atlanta, turnovers remain an issue for Cousins, and you have to imagine the Falcons will have to force a couple of them if they want any chance of coming out on top in Minnesota.
The trade adds another layer of intrigue to that Week 12 matchup, something the Falcons certainly did not need amid this brutal stretch. They just played the high-flying Bengals offense out in Madrid, host the Chiefs this week, and then have matchups lined up with the Vikings and Lions following their bye week. It could be a while before we see the Falcons win another game.
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Photo: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire