Vikings Make Final Call on Cousins After Dobbs’ Decline, Insider Reveals

osh Dobbs appeared to have won himself over as the Minnesota Vikings‘ starting quarterback of the future after just two weeks with his new team.

But after crashing back down to earth, turning the ball over six times in two straight losses before the Vikings’ Week 13 bye, Dobbs’ decline has led Minnesota back to warming up to exploring other options, including re-signing Kirk Cousins.

ESPN insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano discussed the Vikings’ quarterback situation after Kevin O’Connell said he is considering benching Dobbs after he threw four interceptions in a 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday, November 27.

“Will Minnesota get through the season with a mix of Joshua Dobbs and Jaren Hall and just say, forget it, let’s throw Cousins the bag and run it back,” Fowler asked Graziano in a November 29 column.

“That’s absolutely on the table. Cousins likes it in Minnesota, and the Vikings won’t have a high enough draft pick to take one of the truly elite prospects,” Graziano answered, considering Minnesota has shown the intention to compete even after playing much of the season without Cousins or Justin Jefferson, who will return in Week 14.

“Plus, coach Kevin O’Connell’s first two seasons in Minnesota indicate the Vikings can and do expect to contend, rather than rebuild. I was wrong on them. I thought this season would be about figuring out who was and wasn’t part of the future, but they have managed to weather the losses of Cousins and Justin Jefferson to injury and stay in the race. Kudos to them,” Graziano added.

A developing defense under Brian Flores and a competent offensive front has filled in some of the deficiencies that Cousins had to carry the Vikings through for the past three seasons.

Graziano isn’t ready to rule out the Vikings re-signing Cousins considering their roster appears closer to contention than previously thought at the beginning of the 2023 season.

“They have a large menu of QB options next offseason, and it’s certainly possible they pivot away from Cousins to a different one,” Graziano said. “But he and the team do like each other a lot, and I wouldn’t rule out a return. You just know he isn’t going to come cheap!”