5 teams that could trade for Vikings QB Kirk Cousins in 2023
By Chris Schad
Indianapolis Colts
Throughout the 1990s, Minnesota is where aging quarterbacks went to die. What started with Jim McMahon, eventually led to Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, and Jeff George as the Vikings went through a carousel of aging quarterbacks. Even in 2009, the Vikings leaned on the veteran quarterback as Brett Favre led them to the 2009 NFC Championship Game.
The torch has been passed to the Indianapolis Colts, who have been in limbo since Andrew Luck abruptly retired in 2019. Since then, the Colts have trotted out Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan, but none of those options have started for more than one season.
With the fourth overall pick, the Colts could decide to select their quarterback of the future or even trade up with the Chicago Bears, but they could also decide to take a swing at another veteran option in Cousins.
Cousins wouldn’t be a long-term option for the Colts, but he could be a house of cards for a potential quarterback of the future. He also could succeed with Jonathan Taylor in the backfield and an offensive line that was one of the best in the league just two years ago but was decimated by injuries last season.
It’s unlikely the Colts would want to give up the fourth overall pick in a deal, but if a deal included multiple second-rounders or future picks, they could trade for Cousins, take the quarterback they want and prepare him to take over in 2024 (or later).
A potential hurdle is Cousins’s no-trade clause, but if the writing is on the wall, he could see playing for the Colts as a showcase to hit the market next year and cash in on one last payday.