Comparing the Kirk Cousins trade market to other 2022 QBs
By Luke Parrish
Where does this all leave Kirk Cousins?
There is a market out there for Kirk Cousins. Teams looking to upgrade at quarterback without giving up everything of value would be smart to reach out about Kirk prior to the NFL Draft. The Panthers and Colts both went after new quarterbacks in 2021 but failed miserably and are now back in the hunt.
Cousins is an upgrade over both Sam Darnold and Carson Wentz and that’s not really up for discussion. Both of those teams are in a good spot with their divisions crumpling beneath them and a veteran quarterback like Cousins would put them in the driver’s seat for their divisional races next season.
The Panthers have the pieces to be scary on offense with Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore headlining their playmakers. Their defense is built to win right now and in the future with so many young stars on that side of the ball. Kirk Cousins can make them a more dangerous threat than he makes the Vikings.
Cleveland could upgrade from Baker Mayfield if they want to be serious about contending any time soon. Given Cousins’ familiarity with Kevin Stefanski, there could be a nice deal in place for the Browns.
A team like the Broncos, who are expected to go all out for a star quarterback, is a team to really keep an eye on. If they swing and miss on Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins becomes a very real candidate to line up under center for them in 2022.
Denver has a dominant rushing game, talented wide receivers, and a defense that can win them games. They would be the ideal situation for Kirk Cousins aside from the strong AFC West that stands in their way.
There are so many talented quarterbacks that are seemingly available in some regard this offseason. The free-agent crop has a handful of potential starters to go along with the six starting-caliber guys on the trade market. Kirk Cousins is not the top option out there, nor is he an easy player to make a deal for.
His contract is going to make things very tricky in any trade because most teams will not want to eat his full $35 million cap hit and the Vikings likely will not want to eat some of his money unless they get something in return.
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Given that Cousins is not much of a needle mover – which the Vikings have learned the hard way – they should not expect to receive the haul that a player like Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson will require. If any deal comes along with a first-round pick, the Vikings would be foolish not to take it.