And now....on with the show (It's TIMEEE!)

First question: why would the Raiders trade him when he's doing exactly what they'd hoped: keeping the team competitive and mentoring the rookie QB so he can sit and watch. Players enjoy winning games and they are at least .500. I don't see Minnesota trading for any QBs, its Murray or die. Did everyone not see KOC's presser? He's still expecting this offense to 'ascend', just have to figure out '4 quarters of football'. Its November.....tick, tock.

No way in hell the Vikings trade for a QB going into game 8 of the season.

Its K1 or Wentz or look forward to the draft when that time comes.

I'm personally not ready to toss aside the team at 6/1. Still hoping things get better on O

Literally the only player that could step in and make this offense hum right away is Cousins…both due to his familiarity with the system and his current level of play.

Problem is, the Raiders are in no position to trade him right now. Yes they have Mendoza, but there is zero rush to get him on the field. The idea that we can just call them up, offer them a 3rd and get Kirk on a plane is crazy.

Truth be told, bringing in a QB completely unfamiliar with KOC’s system halfway through the season would be an even bigger disaster than we’re experiencing right now.

They traded away “plan B” for a 5th round pick to protect Kyler’s little fee fees. It’s CLEAR that Kyler was the wrong choice, but all they’ve left themselves is Wentz for an alternative.

CFIAvike wrote:

Literally the only player that could step in and make this offense hum right away is Cousins…both due to his familiarity with the system and his current level of play.
Problem is, the Raiders are in no position to trade him right now. Yes they have Mendoza, but there is zero rush to get him on the field. The idea that we can just call them up, offer them a 3rd and get Kirk on a plane is crazy.
Truth be told, bringing in a QB completely unfamiliar with KOC’s system halfway through the season would be an even bigger disaster than we’re experiencing right now.
They traded away “plan B” for a 5th round pick to protect Kyler’s little fee fees. It’s CLEAR that Kyler was the wrong choice, but all they’ve left themselves is Wentz for an alternative.

Mendoza may not see the field till Xmas...If then.

purplefaithful wrote:

*No way in hell the Vikings trade for a QB going into game 8 of the season.
*Its K1 or Wentz or look forward to the draft when that time comes.
**I'm personally not ready to toss aside the team at 6/1. Still hoping things get better on O

*I agree with both.

**I'm not either. However, I'm about "hoped" out.

Cricket wrote:

interesting take by Thielen...

Give it a listen.

Especially in regard to acquiring a qB. Ive been adamant they wont do that at this time, but who knows?

I think a lot depends on what the internal feeling on Mendoze is. Are they fully serious on having him sit a full year or are they planning on getting him snaps this year? Like Cousins probably isn't taking them to a SB, so I'm not sure exactly how long they would hold onto him out of that hope. A lot of teams transition to their rookie QB about halfway through the season. Maybe they where planning on doing it with like 4 games out.

If you overpaid and gave them a first, Cousins would be on the first plane available. Probably also true for a second. If you offered a third, I think they'd probably be waffling on that until the last day before the trade deadline.

Funny how so many Vikings fans couldn't stand Cousins, and now they're ready for him to come back and save the team. I actually loved Kirko and all his awkwardness. He and Jefferson were a fantastic pairing, and Kirk was great for our offense, even if he couldn't win a freaking playoff game.

The dilemma was always whether you pay Kirk or Darnold to stick around, knowing that kind of QB contract limits what you can spend on the defense and other positions, or roll with a young QB on a rookie contract and use that financial flexibility to build the rest of the roster while he develops.

Instead, we somehow managed to choose neither option. We cut bait on a 23-year-old former first-round pick for a fifth-rounder, and now we're talking about potentially giving up a first- or second-round pick just to bring in another veteran QB.

Seriously, how do we manage to make the QB position more complicated than it needs to be? I swear, being a Vikings fan has to be one of the most exhausting experiences in sports. 😂

IceRatz16 wrote:

Funny how so many Vikings fans couldn't stand Cousins, and now they're ready for him to come back and save the team. I actually loved Kirko and all his awkwardness. He and Jefferson were a fantastic pairing, and Kirk was great for our offense, even if he couldn't win a freaking playoff game.
The dilemma was always whether you pay Kirk or Darnold to stick around, knowing that kind of QB contract limits what you can spend on the defense and other positions, or roll with a young QB on a rookie contract and use that financial flexibility to build the rest of the roster while he develops.
Instead, we somehow managed to choose neither option. We cut bait on a 23-year-old former first-round pick for a fifth-rounder, and now we're talking about potentially giving up a first- or second-round pick just to bring in another veteran QB.
Seriously, how do we manage to make the QB position more complicated than it needs to be? I swear, being a Vikings fan has to be one of the most exhausting experiences in sports. 😂

I would say that times have changed on Cousins. I certainly was in the camp that his time was up after 2023. Mostly because the never ending 30 million dollar a year contracts were limiting and Kirk was good enough to overcome his cap hit at the time.

It HAS changed now. First he doesn't cost an exorbitant amount of cap space. You have a ready made defense, all you need is someone to not drive the car over the cliff. Also, we now have what may be the worst QB situation west of New York. A QB who can throw a decent intermediate ball and put together the occasional 10 play drive is like eye candy any more.

Finally, what other real option is there? Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish are not walking through that door...

Vikesrock wrote:

I would say that times have changed on Cousins. I certainly was in the camp that his time was up after 2023. Mostly because the never ending 30 million dollar a year contracts were limiting and Kirk was good enough to overcome his cap hit at the time.
It HAS changed now. First he doesn't cost an exorbitant amount of cap space. You have a ready made defense, all you need is someone to not drive the car over the cliff. Also, we now have what may be the worst QB situation west of New York. A QB who can throw a decent intermediate ball and put together the occasional 10 play drive is like eye candy any more.
Finally, what other real option is there? Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish are not walking through that door...

Does Kirk even want to come here? If he doesn't, then there is no conversation. Why would he put that much pressure on himself if he doesn't have to? IDK I would be all on board if he were on board.

Canthony wrote:

Does Kirk even want to come here? If he doesn't, then there is no conversation. Why would he put that much pressure on himself if he doesn't have to? IDK I would be all on board if he were on board.

A good point, I made that in another thread on here. Maybe he doesn't. At that point we should probably be standing on the side of the road with a sign asking "Need good thrower of 15 yard out. Will pay cash!"

IceRatz16 wrote:

Funny how so many Vikings fans couldn't stand Cousins, and now they're ready for him to come back and save the team. I actually loved Kirko and all his awkwardness. He and Jefferson were a fantastic pairing, and Kirk was great for our offense, even if he couldn't win a freaking playoff game.
The dilemma was always whether you pay Kirk or Darnold to stick around, knowing that kind of QB contract limits what you can spend on the defense and other positions, or roll with a young QB on a rookie contract and use that financial flexibility to build the rest of the roster while he develops.
Instead, we somehow managed to choose neither option. We cut bait on a 23-year-old former first-round pick for a fifth-rounder, and now we're talking about potentially giving up a first- or second-round pick just to bring in another veteran QB.
Seriously, how do we manage to make the QB position more complicated than it needs to be? I swear, being a Vikings fan has to be one of the most exhausting experiences in sports. 😂

In my mind, it was always about the contracts and guarantees that Kirk would demand that bothered me most. He can be a good/above average QB that has his limitations. It’s also that he has never been on a Vikings team with this level of defense. Seeing how well he is playing on LV this year is surprising after what happened in ATL.

The Giants playoff loss was also during the “Donatell” defense that was pretty much garbage. And he also did win the one playoff game in New Orleans.

I would be totally on board with bringing him back. He could operate this offense at such a higher level than Murray or Wince, and he can get the ball to Jefferson. Of course this is assuming the O Line could give him some time back there. A Cousins reunion is unlikely to happen but fun to consider the possibilities with how our defense is playing.

IceRatz16 wrote:

Funny how so many Vikings fans couldn't stand Cousins, and now they're ready for him to come back and save the team. I actually loved Kirko and all his awkwardness. He and Jefferson were a fantastic pairing, and Kirk was great for our offense, even if he couldn't win a freaking playoff game.
The dilemma was always whether you pay Kirk or Darnold to stick around, knowing that kind of QB contract limits what you can spend on the defense and other positions, or roll with a young QB on a rookie contract and use that financial flexibility to build the rest of the roster while he develops.
Instead, we somehow managed to choose neither option. We cut bait on a 23-year-old former first-round pick for a fifth-rounder, and now we're talking about potentially giving up a first- or second-round pick just to bring in another veteran QB.
Seriously, how do we manage to make the QB position more complicated than it needs to be? I swear, being a Vikings fan has to be one of the most exhausting experiences in sports. 😂

Kirk DID win a playoff game. At New Orleans of all places. Beat Brees. Not his fault the team was completely overmatched vs SF the next weekend. Vikings run game had 21 yards. SF ran for 186. 14-10 at halftime then the defense couldn't get off the field in the 2nd half. Kirk got sacked 6 times. 49ers held the ball for 39 minutes. Mostert, Breida, and Coleman shredded the Vikings on the ground.

Vikesrock wrote:

A good point, I made that in another thread on here. Maybe he doesn't. At that point we should probably be standing on the side of the road with a sign asking "Need good thrower of 15 yard out. Will pay cash!"

Well he knows if he comes here that it is SB or bust. Not sure Kirk has that mentality in him. If he does, I hope he would want to come here.

IceRatz16 wrote:

Funny how so many Vikings fans couldn't stand Cousins, and now they're ready for him to come back and save the team. I actually loved Kirko and all his awkwardness. He and Jefferson were a fantastic pairing, and Kirk was great for our offense, even if he couldn't win a freaking playoff game.
The dilemma was always whether you pay Kirk or Darnold to stick around, knowing that kind of QB contract limits what you can spend on the defense and other positions, or roll with a young QB on a rookie contract and use that financial flexibility to build the rest of the roster while he develops.
Instead, we somehow managed to choose neither option. We cut bait on a 23-year-old former first-round pick for a fifth-rounder, and now we're talking about potentially giving up a first- or second-round pick just to bring in another veteran QB.
Seriously, how do we manage to make the QB position more complicated than it needs to be? I swear, being a Vikings fan has to be one of the most exhausting experiences in sports. 😂

Kirko Chainz is the alter ego I fell in love with. Yeah, fans are interesting.....but I also thought, in full disclosure, the team was limited with him and ultimately, that is the case....but I'm also not asking for him to return. He's only ever going to take you so far. Where I have a problem with KOC, and I still like the guy, is the gushing about Murray in TC and preseason. It didn't seem genuine, like he was building a narrative for the team to get behind. And then fans completely disregarding how/why Arizona dumped him and paid a pretty penny to do so....like somehow every former bust is just Sam Darnold waiting to blossom. 🙄

Its tough being a Viking's fan.....and I think its about to get tougher, unfortunately.

You don't have to call it a benching, but the move from Kyler Murray to Carson Wentz should be simple to make. https://t.co/VvZfodgAd0 pic.twitter.com/zxScLUD6O0

— Judd Zulgad (@jzulgad) November 3, 2026