It appears that the Minnesota Vikings are considering a major shakeup, and quarterback Kirk Cousins might be on the way out.
Following their disappointing Week 5 loss to the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Vikings find themselves with a dismal 1-4 start to the season. The team’s recent performance has left them seemingly ready to throw in the towel. In a surprising turn of events, news broke on Monday that the Vikings are now more open to the idea of trading their star quarterback, Kirk Cousins. Adding to the intrigue, on Tuesday, Minnesota made another shocking move by placing All-Pro wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, on the injured reserve list. This move ensures that Jefferson will be sidelined for at least the next four weeks.
What does all of this mean? It strongly suggests that the Vikings are gearing up for a potential rebuild and are eyeing the upcoming draft, particularly the highly-touted quarterback prospect, Caleb Williams. This swift decline is a stark contrast to just one year ago when the Vikings were riding high with 13 wins and leading the NFC North. It’s a puzzling decision to contemplate trading Cousins, especially considering his impressive individual performance this season.
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Cousins is currently leading the NFL in touchdown passes with an astonishing 13 and ranks second in both total yards and yards per game. However, these impressive statistics haven’t translated into enough victories this season. Another factor to consider is Cousins’ contract, which only runs until the end of this season. Complicating matters further, he possesses a no-trade clause in his contract, potentially making any trade discussions tricky. To sum it up, it appears that the days of Minnesota handing out fully guaranteed deals to Cousins may be coming to an end.
Rumors are swirling, with reports that the New York Jets made an initial attempt to acquire Cousins after Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers was ruled out for the season. While their request was denied at the time, the landscape may have changed since. With a 2-3 record in a highly competitive AFC, the Jets might consider rekindling talks about a Cousins trade. The addition of a quarterback of Cousins’ caliber, combined with their strong defense, could breathe new life into their season. Of course, any such deal would need Cousins’ approval. Given the Vikings’ current struggles, a change of scenery to the bustling city of New York might be an enticing prospect.
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With just three weeks left until the NFL trade deadline, the clock is ticking for the Vikings. If they are serious about unloading Cousins before the season concludes, they will need to act swiftly. It’s possible that they may not receive all that they desire in return, but if they hope to have a better shot at securing Caleb Williams, a prompt trade is essential.
Nevertheless, the outcome is far from certain, and they might still find themselves needing to trade up in the first round of the draft. Regardless of the future outcome, it’s becoming increasingly evident that the Kirk Cousins era in Minnesota is rapidly approaching its end.
