THE VIKINGS SIGNED Darnold, who was under contract with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers early in his career, was expected to serve as a placeholder for the rookie they planned to draft the following month. It turned out to be McCarthy, the No. 10 pick and fifth quarterback selected in the 2024 draft. McCarthy’s transition to pro life began slowly, but he made rapid progress in training camp, capped by a highly publicized debut in the season opener on August 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

McCarthy did not want to take another snap after that, as doctors discovered a torn meniscus in his right knee, which required season-ending surgery. Had he avoided serious injury, McCarthy would have had little chance of winning the starting spot. Instead, the role fell to Darnold, whether he was ready or not. It didn’t take long for coaches and teammates to realize it was him.

“He’s a baller,” safety Harrison Smith said. “He can make things happen when he needs to.

“I know the outside narrative about him and his journey and everything, but since he got here I don’t know anymore. It felt like that was exactly what was happening. He just confirmed it.”

The value of the Vikings’ decision to move on from Cousins ​​is evident far beyond Darnold’s performance on the field. The Vikings took a $28.5 million dead money hit on their salary cap account to account for the remainder of Cousins’ previous contract, but he will be off their books entirely in 2025.

This allowed the Vikings to sign nearly two dozen unrestricted free agents and/or incumbents with expiring contracts over the spring and summer. Additionally, Jefferson received a $140 million contract extension and donated another $110 million to left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Jefferson ranks second in the NFL in receiving yards (1,038), but three key members of the free agent class – linebackers Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman – have also played a big part in this season’s success.

The Vikings have taken accounting measures to limit the trio’s 2024 salary cap hit to a total of $12.3 million, taking into account the dead money consumed by Cousins’ and others’ contracts. Next season, the combined salary cap for Greenard, Van Ginkel and Cashman will rise to $41.5 million, but that’s almost identical to the $40 million Cousins ​​is scheduled to make with the Falcons in 2025.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah described his team-building plan following Cousins’ departure: “It’s a collection of players, people, different points in their careers, and you’re trying to hit that magic craps roll at which there are many.” Things happen at the same time.

The most likely scenario for 2025 is that Darnold will land a starting job elsewhere this season, while McCarthy — and his $4.97 million cap charge — will move up to the Vikings’ QB1. If that happens, Darnold and the Vikings will have made the most of their time together.

“It’s just an incredible place,” Darnold said. “I mean, the guys in this locker room… and then just the people here. Of course the people in the organization, but the people who live in Minnesota were great. Everywhere I go, just very genuine, very nice, warm people. I’m just enjoying my time here.”

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Cousins ​​were there A draft night party took place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on April 25th. On the way back to his in-laws’ house, where he and his family were staying, Cousins ​​received a call from offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.

To the surprise of many — Cousins ​​included — the Falcons were close to signing a quarterback with the No. 8 pick, despite obvious needs elsewhere, particularly at edge rusher. Robinson called Cousins ​​heads-up a few minutes earlier.

Cousins ​​viewed Atlanta as a place where he could retire. His wife, Julie, is from Georgia and her family, who live in the area, are die-hard Falcons fans. The selection of Penix suggested that Cousins ​​might not stay with the franchise as long as he had hoped.

The quarterback signing came “out of nowhere,” Cousins ​​said on the “Pure Athlete” podcast in June, but he remained professional and texted Penix that evening. The two have built a solid relationship.

But not only could Atlanta not fill its 2024 needs with the top-10 pick, it was inevitable that there would be calls for Penix to start at some point if Cousins ​​struggled.

These calls have started.

Cousins ​​helped Atlanta to a 6-3 start, its best since reaching the Super Bowl in 2016, but he has thrown six interceptions and no touchdown passes in the last three games – all losses. Cousins ​​threw four interceptions, including a pick-six, against the Chargers on Sunday. The Falcons have lost their commanding NFC South lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6).

Now coming off perhaps the worst three games of his 13-year career, Cousins ​​returns to Minnesota with the pressure of calls for Penix in his ears and the fate of a once-promising season hanging in the balance. The Vikings’ defense is led by the resourceful Brian Flores and is fourth in the league with 39 sacks. Opposing QBs have an average passer rating of 81.0, which is the fourth-worst in the NFL.

Even Matt Ryan, the Falcons’ last franchise quarterback who is currently an analyst, told CBS Sports earlier this week that Penix should play if Cousins ​​continues to struggle.

“It was just kind of a deal where this league and football and my journey is that it always knocks you down and you have to find a way to get back up, and that’s where I find myself again,” Cousins ​​said Wednesday . “I wish I could say I don’t, I wish I could say I wasn’t at that point, but I find myself back there and I just have to believe that tough times don’t last, tough people already. And you just keep going and pushing, and eventually they’ll tell you, ‘Hey, your time in this league is up.’

“But until then, I will continue to try to recover from the mat and get back to work.”

Falcons coach Raheem Morris enthusiastically showed his support for Cousins, saying after the Chargers game that no one gives them a better chance to win than Cousins.

“I need to go to Minnesota and get a big win, and Kirk is ready to go,” Morris said. “Obviously a tough game and all those things, but he’s been through… a lot in his career. But realistically, man, he’s built for this and he’s ready to go.”

Morris said he spoke with Cousins ​​about the Vikings game and its significance.

“You have to kind of talk about the elephant in the room and go back to where it came from,” Morris said. “It will be a noisy environment. Obviously the environment they have created for Minnesota is absolutely outstanding.”