Kirk Cousins to 49ers? Only if Vikings plan to tank, 'Niners are desperate

The offseason storyline that won't die has returned.

Who's going to quarterback the San Francisco 49ers in 2023? Brock Purdy? Tom Brady? Trey Lance? Kirk Cousins? You read that right. The annual offseason storyline connecting Cousins to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has reemerged with a double whammy from Purdy and Brady on Tuesday. 

Purdy reportedly needs Tommy John surgery so his 2023 might be over. And Brady retired (again) so he's out. That leaves the 49ers, who were on the doorstep of the Super Bowl until Purdy injured his elbow, with a huge decision to make this offseason. 

Will they give the reins to Minnesota native Trey Lance, who is unproven and coming off a season-ending foot injury; rely on the competent but injury prone Jimmy Garoppolo; or go outside the organization to find a veteran signal caller who can lead them to the Super Bowl?

If you're thinking Kirk Cousins to the 49ers makes a lot of sense, you might change that tune after reading Purple Insider Matthew Coller's viewpoint. Coller thinks the only way Cousins to the 49ers makes sense is if the Vikings are planning to punt on 2023 and look to the future. 

"The only scenario in which the Vikings would consider trading Cousins to the 49ers would be one where they are pressing the ‘Tank’ button. Otherwise it doesn’t make much sense to send a good quarterback to a terrific team in your own conference," Coller told Bring Me The Sports. 

"Plus, Brock Purdy’s career isn’t over with this injury and Trey Lance still has a chance to become a very good QB. They’d be better served to stay the course and keep reloading their roster rather than going the expensive route with an older quarterback. All that said, everyone has a price, right? If the 49ers are desperate enough to win one with this group, you never know."

The Cousins-Shanahan love story is one that won't stay buried. 

Way back in March 2020, just six days before Cousins signed an extension to remain with the Vikings, ESPN’s Diana Russini strongly suggested that Shanahan still wanted Cousins despite Jimmy Garoppolo leading his team to a 13-3 season that culminated in a Super Bowl appearance.

"I've never seen somebody want a quarterback as bad as Kyle Shanahan has. It was a deal that almost happened, too,” Russini said on ESPN's Get Up. "Kirk Cousins almost wound up with Kyle in San Francisco. It did not. I think they're waiting for that deal to wrap up."

Shanahan admitted to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer in December 2018 – after the 49ers had traded for Garoppolo – that he and GM John Lynch were still interested in getting Cousins.

"But here’s what you may not know—even after San Francisco dealt a second-round pick to the Patriots for Jimmy Garoppolo on Oct. 30, Shanahan and GM John Lynch had yet to shut the door on the idea of pursuing Cousins. Garoppolo had much to prove over the two months to follow, and the man Shanahan developed in D.C. in 2012 and ’13 lurked as an option if Tom Brady’s backup fell on his face."

Furthermore, Lynch told an ESPN radio station in March 2018 – just after Cousins signed his $84 million deal with the Vikings – that Shanahan was down in the dumps that he didn't get Cousins.

"We made the trade, but then there were some days when Kyle Shanahan was, like, in mourning, because I think everybody knows his master plan was to have Kirk Cousins come in eventually. I was proud of Kyle, because I think he knew this was the right thing for our franchise. And he didn’t hesitate. But then, even then, Jimmy had to really prove himself."

This thing seems legit but those quotes are now 4-5 years old. Does Shanahan still feel that way about Cousins? It may not matter because if the Vikings have plans to contend next season they're going to need Cousins throwing footballs to Justin Jefferson again. 

And what could the 49ers give the Vikings for Cousins anyway? They don't have any first- or second-round picks in this year's NFL Draft. That's important because for the Rams to get Matthew Stafford from the Lions in 2021 they had to give up two first-round picks, a third-round pick and Jared Goff. 

You never know, but as Coller said, the storyline become reality doesn't seem likely unless the Vikings planning to start over and the 49ers are desperate to win right away.