We're now two weeks into the NFL season, and the Minnesota Vikings are sitting with a miserable 0-2 record. Historically, only 11.5 percent of NFL teams that have started their schedule with an 0-2 record since 1990 went on to make the playoffs (31 out 270). So is the 2023 season already over for the Vikings?
Minnesota is likely going to try and turn things around like the Cincinnati Bengals were able to last year after their 0-2 start (made it to the AFC Championship). But with games coming up against the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs, the Vikings' road to getting things back on track is far from easy.
If things continue to go wrong for Minnesota, could they consider becoming sellers at the trade deadline, or perhaps even earlier?
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is currently in the final year of his contract with the franchise, and even though he has a no-trade clause in his deal, Minnesota could attempt to move him before this season's trade deadline on October 31st.
One team that could be interested in acquiring Cousins before or by the trade deadline is the New York Jets. After Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1, the Jets could be looking to make a major quarterback move to contend for a championship this year.
On Friday, former New York linebacker Bart Scott made the argument on ESPN's "Get Up!" for the Jets to consider trading for Cousins this season.
"Kirk Cousins to the Jets! Who says no?"@Espngreeny is "all in" for New York to make the trade for the QB 😅 pic.twitter.com/GyE3HZiNcE
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 15, 2023
Scott's main argument is that if New York is truly all-in for the 2023 season, then they shouldn't care about giving up a 2024 first-round draft pick to acquire Cousins or any other quarterback they might be interested in trading for.
The situation should be somewhat familiar to Vikings fans as it's a bit reminiscent of Minnesota's 2016 team that had to scramble for a new starting quarterback after Teddy Bridgewater suffered a devastating knee injury right before their first game of the season.
The Vikings, of course, ended up sending a first-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Sam Bradford.
So, if Minnesota continues to struggle this season, could Cousins be convinced to waive his no-trade clause in order to land with a team like the Jets that could potentially contend for a Super Bowl this year?