Former Falcons QB dealt to Vikings ahead of NFL trade deadline

The 2026 NFL trade deadline has more than lived up to the hype thus far. The Atlanta Falcons got things started on Monday by trading safety Jessie Bates to the Jacksonville Jaguars for two draft picks. While Atlanta has been relatively quiet on Tuesday, former Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is officially on the move. The Minnesota Vikings were desperate for a quarterback and finally agreed to send a third-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for Cousins just 90 minutes before the deadline. Even at 6-2, the Vikings offense has failed to find its footing all season long. With Kyler Murray injured and Carson Wentz struggling, Minnesota opted to bring back Cousins, who played for the Vikings for six seasons (2018-2023). The veteran QB previously played some of his best football under Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. Cousins has played surprisingly well this season, passing for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions for a passer rating of 97.1. The Raiders drafted quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, and now that Cousins is out of the picture, the rookie is set to make his first NFL start in Week 10. Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in 2024, and despite getting off to a promising start that season, the quarterback struggled down the stretch and was eventually benched for Michael Penix Jr. Cousins was released over the season as the team signed Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum. The Falcons will get to see Cousins up close when they face the Vikings on the road in Week 12. Follow our Falcons trade deadline tracker to stay up to date with the latest news and rumors.