The Vikings have started 0-2, so cue the 'Kirk Cousins to the New York Jets' frenzy
It's been five days since Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles and 12 hours since Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings fell to 0-2 with a 34-28 loss to the Eagles. That combo has led to intense speculation about the New York Jets trading for Cousins.
Is it crazy? It depends on how you analyze the situation.
Right now, the Vikings are 0-2 but know damn well they could be 2-0 if not for seven turnovers in two games. Take away the turnovers and the Vikings look like a formidable team in the NFC. Trading Cousins now makes no sense unless the front office is hell bent on picking as high as possible in the 2024 NFL Draft.
But Cousins isn't signed beyond this season, so would Minnesota entertain the idea of trading their QB for draft capital to get their future quarterback in the loaded 2024 class? Again, right now it doesn't make much sense but that could change in the coming weeks.
On ESPN's "Get Up" Friday morning, the entire first segment was spent talking about the idea of the Jets trading for Cousins. One of the panelists, former NFL linebacker Bart Scott, is all about the Jets going after the Vikings' signal caller.
"If you want to make this happen, if you really want to make this happen, you gotta throw that [first-round pick] in," Scott said. "They won't turn it down."
Hold up. Cousins has a no-trade clause and might turn it down.
"Are we all in? Then screw that first-round draft pick," Scott continued. "If we're all in and we think with Kirk Cousins we become a Super Bowl contender again, is it not worth the first-round draft pick that's probably going to be in the 20s if Kirk Cousins comes and plays at a high level?"
"Kirk Cousins to the Jets! Who says no?"@Espngreeny is "all in" for New York to make the trade for the QB 😅 pic.twitter.com/GyE3HZiNcE
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 15, 2023
According to OverTheCap, the Jets currently have just over $9 million in cap space. Cousins is making $35 million this season and his cap hit is $20.25 million. Could the Jets somehow restructure enough contracts to stay cap compliant with Cousins?
The Jets' 2024 first-round pick is available because the pick they sent to the Green Bay Packers was protected in the event that Rodgers didn't play 65% of the snaps this season. He played just four snaps before the tendon that connected his calf muscle to his heel bone snapped.
Trading Cousins just two single-score losses into the season for the Vikings is way too early. But that could change by the November trade deadline if Minnesota doesn't do well in the next six games against the Chargers, Panthers, Chiefs, Bears, 49ers and Packers.
If the Vikings are entering November with a record of something like 2-6 or 3-5, then the idea of trading Cousins gets more interesting because the Vikings know they might not re-sign him and their playoff hopes could be significantly diminished.
If the Jets are still in the mix in the AFC and the Vikings are on fumes in the NFC, then then it could be the perfect storm for a Cousins trade and Minnesota setting the stage to land their future QB in the draft.
Without Cousins, the Vikings won't win many games and would likely be picking very high in the draft, which could help them guarantee Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or whomever they feel is going to be their next franchise QB. Cousins's contract will be off the books and the Vikings could convince Jefferson to sign a long-term mega extension after they draft a potential star QB.
Related: NFL on Prime Video panel full of praise for Kirk Cousins despite Eagles loss
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