Via Possible Trade, Kirk Cousins Again Linked to Steelers in 2022
The Pittsburgh Steelers will likely be in the market for a new quarterback in 2022 as the career of Ben Roethlisberger comes to an end this season.
The Minnesota Vikings may undergo an era of change this offseason, possibly involving the head coach or quarterback.
Two weeks ago, VikingsTerritory opined on initial trade smoke of Kirk Cousins to the Steelers in 2022. And that fodder is not dying down. Last time it was Brooke Pryor of ESPN — this time it’s Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus. Spielberger wrote an article this week detailing realistic trade proposals for 2022 — and the Vikings quarterback made the list, joining — you guessed it — the Steelers.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”928532″ player=”26279″ title=”4%20ideal%20offseason%20Kirk%20Cousins%20trade%20destinations” duration=”81″ description=”It’s time for the Minnesota Vikings to start making plans for the future, one that includes a 2022 offseason with a Kirk Cousins trade and an organizational reset after another disappointing season.Cousins will enter 2022 in a contract year, a position he and the Vikings are very familiar with. While the 33-year-old quarterback is playing at a high level, it’s evident he and the Vikings aren’t close to competing for the NFC North title or a Super Bowl.With that in mind, we examine the best Kirk Cousins trades that would benefit both the star quarterback and his teams.” uploaddate=”2021-12-22″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/snapshot/928494_s_1640136316410.jpg” contentUrl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/streaming/928494/928494.m3u8″]
For compensation, Spielberger theorized Minnesota would receiver a 1st-Rounder from the 2022 NFL Draft and a 3rd-Rounder in 2023. Not bad. Spielberger noted:
“Not too long ago, Cousins was drafted in the fourth round after starting 45 games at Michigan State. He got his NFL shot following an injury to Robert Griffin III and made the most of it. […] From the Steelers’ perspective, they just made edge defender T.J. Watt the highest-paid defensive player in football. They may soon make Minkah Fitzpatrick one of the highest-paid safeties in football and are still getting elite play out of veteran interior defender Cameron Heyward. They have no interest in a full-scale rebuild, and they probably shouldn’t.”
The idea is that Pittsburgh doesn’t invest in rebuilds — that’s how they constantly, relentlessly stay relevant — so a quarterback who can win now with the right pieces around him is the meal ticket. Too, in the perception of many fans, that’s precisely what Cousins needs — a team with a study defense, some playmakers, and his 4,000+ passing yards and 30+ touchdown passes will take care of the rest.
If the Vikings do trade Cousins — eating $10 million in dead cap as penance — the front office will have $35 million to use on other areas of the roster while giving rookie Kellen Mond the keys to offense or drafting a new signal-caller in the 2022 NFL Draft. That person could possibly be selected with the Steelers pick received in the hypothetical trade.
When Mike Zimmer arrived in Minnesota, he was relatively adamant about employing non-superstar quarterbacks who specialized in limiting turnovers. Then, his defense would simply dominate. Plus, Zimmer adores running the football. When Cousins was signed, the Vikings wanted to blend both offensive worlds — run the ball down throats and toss the pigskin around with Cousins’ acumen for precision.
It has not worked through four seasons.
All the Vikings have to show for the Cousins experiment is a stunning playoff upset win at New Orleans in January of 2020. Otherwise, the results are a bastion of mediocrity.
Cousins would thrive in Pittsburgh, empowered by Mike Tomlin, a coach absolutely refusing to foster losing seasons. However, the Vikings — in a matter of weeks — must decide to link their future to Zimmer or Cousins. It is somewhat unlikely the team jettisons both men.
And if general manager Rick Spielman opts to say sayonara to Cousins instead of Zimmer, well, the Steelers make oodles of sense as a trade partner.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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