A third‑round pick once brought a former Viking back, only for the stint to end quickly; this time the reunion could stretch further, though likely not past this season.
Back in 2010 Minnesota traded a third‑rounder to New England for wideout Randy Moss, a player the club had sent to Oakland five years earlier. Coach Brad Childress deemed Moss a ‘programmatic non‑fit’ and cut him after four games.
Now quarterback Kirk Cousins returns on a third‑round selection and a contract that spans nine regular‑season games. The Raiders structured his deal to boost the $8.7 million the Falcons owe him for 2026, on top of the $90 million he earned in 2024‑25, and added a $10 million guaranteed roster bonus for 2027 that the Raiders will pay.
The pact also features a 2028 base salary of $78.655 million, which becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2027 league year. Paired with a $1.345 million base in 2027 that guarantees the same day, Minnesota could owe roughly $80 million over two seasons if they don’t cut him.
Absent a revised agreement, the existing contract would likely be shredded by March. The real question is whether Minnesota and Cousins can hammer out a new deal to replace it.
How the season unfolds will heavily influence that outcome. Still, Cousins can force free agency for the fourth time in his career simply by refusing to honor the current terms.
Whatever the path, Cousins is a shrewd businessman. His $333 million career total places him fourth on the all‑time earnings list.
His on‑field résumé tells another story: three playoff appearances and a single postseason victory.
If his return injects a B‑12 boost into Minnesota, a realistic shot at the playoffs emerges, along with a chance to notch a second playoff win.
Maybe a third, maybe a fourth—could he finally lead Minnesota deeper than ever?