Vikings Wanted Kirk Cousins Trade Before Wentz Struggled, Latest NFL Rumors on Raiders Talks

Despite the conventional wisdom being the Minnesota Vikings pursued the Kirk Cousins trade in direct response to Carson Wentz's performance on Monday Night Football, they actually reached out to the Las Vegas Raiders before their 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Vikings' first call to the Raiders about Cousins came a few hours before Monday's kickoff and they "made it clear" they wanted to see how Wentz played before taking things further.

The report also noted Minnesota's initial offer of a fifth-round pick for Cousins was of no interest to the Raiders, but the tide shifted when it was bumped up to a 2027 third-round selection:

"It was not a deal the Raiders wanted, nor were looking to make, especially when Minnesota's initial offer was a fifth-round draft pick, according to sources.

"But once the Vikings upped their offer to a third-round pick, the Raiders had discussions about whether the trade made sense, and here's where they landed:

"Not only would they be receiving a third-round pick, but they also would be freeing up $10 million in cash for the 2027 season, as the bonus guarantee owed to Cousins would shift to Minnesota's responsibility. It was not a trade that the Raiders enjoyed making, but it was one they believed would be in the best interests of the organization."

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

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