If you’re already sick of trade rumors involving Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and the San Francisco 49ers, it doesn’t look like they’re going to disappear anytime soon.
We’re completely guilty of speculating about a possible Cousins to the 49ers trade during the last few months and now, ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio has thrown his hat into the discussion.
Florio recently appeared on a San Francisco radio station (95.7 The Game) and he believes that San Francisco making a trade for the current Vikings quarterback is “more realistic,” than them completing a deal to acquire Houston Texans signal-caller Deshaun Watson.
Mike Florio thinks the Minnesota Vikings are looking to give away Kirk Cousins
Florio’s comment about Cousins being a more realistic trade option for the 49ers than Watson is far from a hot take. What he went on to say about what it would take for Minnesota to deal their starting quarterback is where his thoughts begin to get ludicrous.
"“I can’t see the Vikings demanding a whole lot if they would decide to move on from Kirk Cousins. I think that’s something that the 49ers should definitely explore, and if the Vikings know what’s good for them, frankly, in all due respect to Kirk Cousins and the team, they’ll decide to make a move.”"
He can’t see the Vikings demanding a whole lot? Is this what Florio truly believes or is this what the guy who thought Case Keenum could’ve returned to Minnesota in 2019 wishes would happen?
Florio is also a guy who said two years ago that the Vikings might’ve been better during the 2019 season if they had stuck with Keenum instead of signing Cousins. Are we beginning to understand why he might “think” Minnesota would be willing to practically give away their current starting quarterback?
For a team like the Vikings with a current head coach and general manager who are heading into a 2021 season where they will be on the hot seat, any trade offer for Cousins that doesn’t include a first-round draft pick in return isn’t something Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman are going to bother with.
With their jobs on the line, Zimmer and Spielman aren’t about to give away Minnesota’s starting quarterback who just threw 35 touchdowns during the 2020 season. The Vikings would need enough trade compensation to land a new starting signal-caller whose performance wouldn’t result in the offense taking a significant step back in 2021.
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So contrary to what Florio believes (and wishes), there’s no reason to expect Minnesota to agree to a trade involving Cousins that doesn’t result in them receiving at least one first-round draft pick in return.