Kirk Cousins Returns to Minnesota at the Deadline
The Vikings paid a 2027 third-rounder to undo their quarterback problem; Keenan Allen lands in San Francisco and the Chiefs buy receiving help in a busy final day.
Kirk Cousins was traded back to the Minnesota Vikings from Las Vegas hours before Tuesday's NFL trade deadline.
Kirk Cousins is headed back to Minnesota, traded from Las Vegas to the Vikings hours before Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline. [NFL trade deadline roundup: Kirk Cousins, Keenan Allen join contenders — Field Level Media (November 11)]
Las Vegas receives a 2027 third-round pick and paid only $650,000 of Cousins' salary; Minnesota takes the balance plus a $10 million roster bonus in 2027. The deal was pending Cousins' physical on Tuesday night. [NFL trade deadline roundup: Kirk Cousins, Keenan Allen join contenders — Field Level Media (November 11)]
Minnesota's need was on Monday night's tape: Carson Wentz posted a single-digit passer rating and committed three turnovers in a 23-6 home loss to Buffalo that dropped the Vikings to 6-2. Kyler Murray, the Week 1 starter, left that game with a concussion and hasn't sparked the offense in five starts since. Cousins knows the city, the coach and the playbook from six seasons in Minnesota (2018-23) and threw 20 touchdowns against eight interceptions for the 4-5 Raiders, who now hand the job to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Cousins could start this weekend against Green Bay, the team his Minnesota run ended against with an Achilles injury in October 2023. [NFL trade deadline roundup: Kirk Cousins, Keenan Allen join contenders — Field Level Media (November 11)] [Falcons recap: trades, grades and lineup changes in Atlanta — Falcons Wire, USA Today]
The rest of the day sorted contenders from sellers. Indianapolis (2-7) sent six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen, 40 catches for 351 yards this season, to 7-1 San Francisco for a 2027 sixth-rounder, into a 49ers receiver room missing Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, Christian Kirk and Demarcus Robinson. Kansas City paid a 2027 fourth and fifth for Colts slot receiver Josh Downs, its own injury list at receiver growing by the week. Buffalo added safety Amani Hooker from Tennessee, Denver took linebacker Daiyan Henley from the division-rival Chargers, and Atlanta sold twice: Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates III to Jacksonville for a 2027 second-rounder and a 2028 fifth, and starting center Ryan Neuzil to Baltimore for guard Andrew Vorhees and a 2028 sixth. Contenders bought players. Everyone else bought Aprils. [NFL trade deadline roundup: Kirk Cousins, Keenan Allen join contenders — Field Level Media (November 11)] [Falcons recap: trades, grades and lineup changes in Atlanta — Falcons Wire, USA Today]
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