Report: “Perfect Storm” Needed to Trade Kirk Cousins
For folks who believed the Minnesota Vikings would trade quarterback Kirk Cousins before the NFL’s trade deadline on Halloween, it’s time to readjust your mindset.
Cousins is not expected to waive his no-trade clause in the next 17 days and will remain the Vikings QB1 through thick and thin for the rest of 2023, according to ESPN.
Report: “Perfect Storm” Needed to Trade Kirk Cousins
The Vikings own a poor 1-4 record through five games and take on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday afternoon. Cousins has frequented the league’s trade rumor mill since Minnesota lost to Tampa Bay in Week 1 and Aaron Rodgers’ injury the following night.
“Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell does not want to move on from the quarterback that led his team to an NFC North title last season. Cousins is comfortable in Minnesota, with his family settled there, and is not looking to move on. Cousins also is known to prefer to have a firm grasp on his offense and a longstanding comfort level with his wide receivers, and he would not have that with most NFL teams looking for a midseason trade,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote Saturday.
Earlier this week, a reporter asked Cousins if he’d consider waiving his no-trade clause, and he replied, “I’m just very focused on the Bears and going 1-0 this week. Anything else is just not worth my time or energy or attention.”
Cousins leads the NFL in touchdown passes, ranks second in passing yards, and is situated at 10th per EPA+CPOE.
Schefter did mention, however, that Cousins may ponder a trade scenario if a perfect storm brewed.
“Although Cousins’ response to the question was open-ended, it would take a perfect storm to conjure a scenario that would result in the Vikings cashing out on their season and trading Cousins,” he wrote.
This almost sounds like code for the San Francisco 49ers, a team connected to the Cousins-themed rumor mill for about three years. San Francisco’s head coach, Kyle Shanahan, worked with Cousins in Washington seven years ago and has repeatedly affirmed his respect for the quarterback.
Five non-49ers teams have vacillated in the rumor mill for Cousins’ service this month: the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tennessee Titans. But those destinations are essentially moot, per the ESPN reporting.
Cousins is scheduled to hit free agency in March, barring a Vikings extension early in the offseason. Then, he can sign anywhere in the NFL, and general managers need not surrender draft capital via trade for the 35-year-old.
The Vikings are favored by three points to take down the Bears in Week 6.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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