The Raiders let Kirk Cousins choose, and he picked a return to the Vikings

Kirk Cousins is back with the Minnesota Vikings because he asked to be. Before the Las Vegas Raiders traded him on Tuesday, they gave him the chance to decide whether to stay or go, Tom Pelissero reported in The Sweep.

The compensation was already agreed, according to Pelissero. Cousins talked it over with his family, his agent Mike McCartney and Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell, and by midday Tuesday he told Raiders general manager John Spytek he wanted to go back to Minnesota. McCartney said few leaders in the league "would've done that."

The deal

Minnesota sends its 2027 third-round pick to Las Vegas, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and the Raiders. Pelissero reported that the Vikings take on Cousins' minimum base salary for the rest of this season and a $10 million guaranteed roster bonus due next March.

New Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley said Wednesday the team saw "an opportunity to acquire an accomplished quarterback and improve the Minnesota Vikings."

Why Minnesota made the call

The Vikings started 6-0 and have lost two straight. Carson Wentz, starting for the injured Kyler Murray, went 8 of 25 for 81 yards in Monday's 23-6 loss to Buffalo. ESPN's Kevin Seifert counted eight starting quarterbacks and 14 in-season quarterback changes in Minnesota since Cousins tore his right Achilles at Lambeau Field on Oct. 29, 2023.

In nine starts for the 4-5 Raiders, Cousins threw for 2,340 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, according to ESPN. He already ranks third in Vikings history in career passing yards, behind Fran Tarkenton and Tommy Kramer, and won one playoff game in six seasons there, Pelissero noted.

The Vikings play at Green Bay on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX, and ESPN reported Cousins could start. Las Vegas has named No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza its starter for Sunday's home game against Seattle.