Possibility of Kirk Cousins to Broncos Heats Up after Rodgers Stays in GB
In an offseason quarterback trade market figured to be robust and eventful, Kirk Cousins might be the last man standing.
Aaron Rodgers re-upped with the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday, securing $153 million guaranteed dollars. Not bad for a soon-to-be 39-year-old.
Deshaun Watson’s trade stock is murky as he and his camp hope to mitigate sexual misconduct allegations.
In Arizona, the Cardinals want Kyler Murray back, and the quarterback wants Rodgers-like money. They’ll probably figure the terms out.
And the Washington Commanders allegedly sent a Godfather deal to Seattle for Russell Wilson, to which the Seahawks said fugetabout it.
That leaves Kirk Cousins, Carson Wentz, and perhaps Matt Ryan.
Wentz personally collapsed down the stretch of the 2021 season. Ryan is old. Cousins delivered 33 touchdown passes to seven interceptions last season. Who is the shiniest for value? You know the answer.
The Broncos were a favorite to land Rodgers if a trade request was on the menu. With Rodgers re-committing to Green Bay, Denver’s options at quarterback are suddenly limited. A common sentiment in NFL circles is that Denver is a “quarterback away” from postseason relevance, so surely the franchise could hit gold with Rodgers, Watson, Wilson, or Murray this offseason, right? Perhaps not.
The man in charge out in the Denver is George Paton, a lieutenant to ex-Vikings boss Rick Spielman for several seasons with the Vikings. Paton knows Cousins. The Broncos, alas, need a consistent quarterback. Paton has money to spend with his salary cap. And the Vikings could be shopping Cousins, especially with Rodgers deal level-setting the market and Cousins potentially desiring $40+ million annually. It adds up.
Otherwise for Denver, the alternative is selecting a quarterback in a widely-announced weak draft class. That could be Malik Willis. Perhaps Matt Corral. Maybe Kenny Pickett. But none of those names have bonafide-star pizazz as some draft classes offer.
The key is to monitor Cousins’ and the Vikings contract negotiations. Those come down to money and value. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell have already stated — about three times apiece — they envision Cousins as the QB1 in September. However, if Cousins demands ginormous average annual cash, the organization may have no choice but to trade Cousins to maximize roster strength via draft capital.
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After the Rodgers extension, there has never been a better time to trade Cousins. By default, he’s a hot commodity. The rest of the quarterbacks aren’t really moving. Cousins can move — if the Vikings brass sees fit.
And in the end, the Broncos have cap cash. The Vikings do not. Denver’s quest for a consistent passer has spanned six seasons, to no avail. The old Vikings lieutenant boss is now the big boss in Denver. Plus, everything about the Vikings this offseason is about “fresh starts.”
A Cousins trade — especially to Denver — is more real than ever.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. 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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