4 non-Jets teams that could trade for Kirk Cousins in 2023

Team No. 2

San Francisco 49ers

We've all heard all about how much current San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan wanted to trade for Kirk Cousins a few years ago. There were even some rumors that the 49ers and Vikings had talks about a deal involving Cousins as recently as this offseason.

But San Francisco is currently set with Brock Purdy as their starting quarterback, and they are off to a blazing 3-0 start to the 2023 season.

However, football is a sport that is full of unpredictable injuries, and the 49ers' 2022 season ended one game short of the Super Bowl, thanks to Purdy suffering an injury in the NFC Championship.

Purdy has healed from the injury he suffered last January, but if he were to do down with another significant injury before this year's trade deadline, and San Francisco was in the middle of an impressive season, then they might place a call to Minnesota to see what it would take to acquire Cousins.

The 49ers do currently have Sam Darnold as their backup behind Purdy. But no one believes that Darnold would give San Francisco a better shot at competing for a championship this season than Cousins.

The 49ers also have selections in the first and second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, so they would likely be able to fulfill whatever compensation the Vikings are looking for in return for Cousins.

San Francisco has made some notable moves before the trade deadline in the past (see Christian McCaffrey and Jimmy Garoppolo). Could they do it again this season if they end up needing someone to fill in for Purdy?