Kirk Cousins trade grades: Vikings hope to salvage offense; Raiders get ‘A,’ turn to Fernando Mendoza

Kevin O'Connell and the Minnesota Vikings are making one last-ditch attempt to save their offense, reuniting with Kirk Cousins and sending their 2027 third-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in return.

Cousins, 38, was in the middle of a renaissance year in Sin City, with 20 passing touchdowns and just eight interceptions. He is now being called upon to save a dire situation in Minneapolis. The Vikings have scored just 11 offensive touchdowns this season, tied with the Chargers for the fewest in the NFL. Offseason addition Kyler Murray and veteran backup Carson Wentz have both struggled mightily, with Murray at or near the bottom of most major passing categories and Wentz throwing for just 81 yards and two interceptions starting for Murray (hamstring) on "Monday Night Football."

Cousins spent 2018-23 in Minnesota, where he made three of his four career Pro Bowls. He was especially good in 2022, when he led an NFL-high eight game-winning drives, and Minnesota went 13-4 before being bounced in its first playoff game. The next year, Cousins was arguably even better — on pace for maybe the best year of his career — before tearing his Achilles. Now, three years later, he gets…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/