The last time the Vikings brought back a key former player for a third-round pick, the reunion didn’t last long. This time, it will last longer — but possibly not beyond the current season.

In 2010, the Vikings sent a third-round pick to the Patriots for receiver Randy Moss, whom the Vikings had traded to the Raiders in 2005. Former coach Brad Childress, calling Moss a “programmatic non-fit,” released Moss after four games.

Now, quarterback Kirk Cousins returns for a third-round pick, and a contract that covers nine regular-season games. His deal with the Raiders was structured to maximize the amount the Falcons owed Cousins for 2026 ($8.7 million, on top of the $90 million he made in 2024 and 2025) with another $10 million paid by the Raiders to Cousins in 2027, in the form of a guaranteed roster bonus not subject to offset.

The contract also includes a 2028 base salary of $78.655 million that becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2027 league year. Coupled with a $1.345 million base salary in 2027 that becomes fully guaranteed that same day, the Vikings would be on the hook for $80 million over two years if he’s not released by then.

Without a revised deal, the current contract surely would be torn up by March. The question is whether the Vikings and Cousins would be able to come up with a new contract to replace it.

Much of that depends on how the rest of the year goes. Still, Cousins has the ability to force his way to free agency, for the fourth time in his career, by simply declining to re-do the existing deal.

However it plays out, Cousins can be counted on to make a good business decision. He has $333 million in career earnings, which has him at fourth on the all-time list.

On-field success is a different story. He has made it to the postseason three times in his career, with one playoff win.

If, as expected, the return of Cousins provides a B-12 shot to the Minnesota franchise, he has a realistic chance of getting back to the playoffs. And of winning a second postseason game.

And maybe a third. Hell, maybe even a fourth.