This week, two veteran quarterbacks solidified new spots. Teams heading into the 2022 NFL season, yet, continue to improve rosters before the new year kicks off. On Tuesday, Aaron Rodgers agreed to return to the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos in a blockbuster trade. With two major quarterbacks off the market, current Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins might be the next best available quarterback on the market.
As the off-season progresses, especially with a new regime in charge in Minnesota, it has appeared as though the Vikings would end up hanging onto Cousins for at least the 2022 campaign. Not only does his contract make a move tough for the purple and gold, but perhaps the new leaders in the front office and on the sidelines would like to take a look at a Cousins-led offense within their offensive system.
But with Rodgers and Wilson now off the trade market, Cousins could be next quarterback in line for teams to trade for. Minnesota would likely listen to any and all offers that come in from other NFL squads, but it will be interesting to see if a deal ends up being made before the start of the new year.
Kirk Cousins Could Be Next Best Quarterback Trade
Trade Market, Interested Teams
Ahead of the NFL Draft in April, there are a few teams that are still on the look for their next quarterback. Whether that would ultimately be decided by dipping into free agency, via the draft or by completing a trade for an existing NFL quarterback.
There is definitely a market out there for Cousins. A team with a vacancy under center could prefer a veteran quarterback like Cousins to avoid a rebuild, allowing them to pick right up where the 2021 season left off. The Broncos were one team viewed to be looking for a quarterback, but are now set after trading for Wilson. If Rodgers would have left Green Bay, the Packers could have looked for his replacement, but they are now also set under center.
Other teams that missed out on Wilson and Rodgers who still have some questions at quarterback include teams like the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and now the Indianapolis Colts, among others. It might be worth keeping an eye on the New York Giants and the Cleveland Browns as well, if they both decide to move on from their current quarterbacks.
There are teams interesting in bringing in a new quarterback to their rosters ahead of the 2022 season, even with Rodgers and Wilson now unavailable. Cousins could be next on their list of targets.
Other Quarterbacks Available
With a few teams still on the search for a quarterback, there are some intriguing options and names available outside of Cousins. Those players might also have more of a salary-friendly contract that would be worth exploring before Cousins.
Two of the top two names who could end up being traded now that the dominos of Rodgers and Wilson have fallen include San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson. Garoppolo will likely be moved either way this off-season, while Watson could be traded if a team decides it wants to deal with his current off-the-field issues.
Others that could end up becoming available via trade include Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield, Arizona Cardinals‘ Kyler Murray and New York’s Daniel Jones. Carson Wentz was also on that list until Indianapolis traded him to the Washington Commanders on Wednesday.
Outside of the trade market, there are some solid free agent options also available, including Teddy Bridgewater, Mitchell Trubisky, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andy Dalton, Cam Newton, Tyrod Taylor, Jameis Winston, Jacoby Brissett, and Marcus Mariota, among others.
Then there is this year’s draft class, although it appears to not be filled with too many franchise-altering prospects in 2022. Some of the top quarterback targets via the draft include Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, Liberty’s Malik Willis, Ole Miss’s Matt Corral, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder, North Carolina’s Sam Howell, and others.
Potential Trade Package for Kirk Cousins
When it comes to a potential track package that could be put together to acquire Kirk Cousins via trade, that’s where things get interesting. Minnesota would not get anywhere near what Seattle got for Wilson in a trade, mainly because Wilson is a more superior talent and is on a more contract-friendly deal compared to Cousins. But the Vikings could still get a nice return for Cousins if they decide to part ways with the veteran quarterback and a team is desperate enough to offer more for him.
When it comes to the Broncos/Seahawks trade that sent Wilson to Denver, Seattle received two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick and three players. That’s a haul for a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Wilson, who is 33 years old like Cousins.
Garoppolo and Watson would likely require that kind of compensation, but Cousins could be had for cheaper if teams are willing to take on some or most of his $45 million cap hit due this season. Minnesota would likely get a nice return for Cousins perhaps consisting of draft and player compensation, but the Vikings would also likely have to send away some draft compensation as well to sweeten the deal to persuade a team to take on a majority of Cousins’ salary.
The Vikings are really in a no-lose situation this off-season, since they are already assuming they would be taking on Cousins’ large contract in 2022. Minnesota could end up doing one of two things this off-season: Either it hangs onto Cousins and his contract while attempting to see what the new regime can do with him under center, or it gets what it can via trade with a team who comes calling to acquire him.
Two hurdles have fallen in the NFL with Rodgers and Wilson spoken for, but there is still plenty to unfold mainly at the quarterback position before the new year kicks off. And Kirk Cousins could be the next best option for teams to try and trade for to solidify that position under center.
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