With a completely new regime in Minnesota, starting quarterback Kirk Cousins could be a prime target to get moved when the 2022 year begins in March.
The Minnesota Vikings have an interesting situation on their hands with a new regime, highlighted by general manager Kwefi Adofi-Mensah, and head coach Kevin O’Connell. The most interesting part of their situation is what they should do with Kirk Cousins.
Cousins has been highlighted by many who cover the NFL as someone who could be traded. If traded, the Vikings could save as much as $35 million against their cap, while incurring $10 million in dead money.
The Vikings’ original thought was that Cousins could put them over the edge after the 2017 Vikings made it to the NFC Championship game with Case Keenum.
However, because of a few issues with the Vikings over the years, the team only sniffed the playoffs once, in 2019, and made it to the divisional round.
Now that another season has come and gone without a meaningful finish, Cousins could find himself on a new team for 2022 and beyond, but which teams make the most sense?
Trade Destinations for Kirk Cousins – Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns broke out of irrelevancy in 2020, going 11-5 and making the playoffs for the first time in 249 years. However, because of injuries, COVID, and a regressed Baker Mayfield, the Browns found themselves back in irrelevancy for 2021.
Baker Mayfield is under contract for one more season but hasn’t fully cemented his status as the long-term answer.
He was great in his rookie season, regressed in season two, bounced back in season three, and regressed in season four. Mayfield has been wildly inconsistent, and it would be a shame if the Browns, with their loaded roster, fell on their face in 2022 because of their quarterback.
It’s clear that Mayfield is the weak link, so packaging him in a trade for Kirk Cousins makes a lot of sense.
Cousins has worked with Browns’ head coach Kevin Stefanski in Minnesota before and has been one of the most consistent passers in the NFL in the past six or so years.
Plus, the Vikings might be willing to take a chance on Baker; perhaps giving him a fresh start will allow him to sustain long-term success as a starter in the NFL.
Trade Destinations for Kirk Cousins – Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos need an answer at quarterback. Their failed retreat experiments of Joe Flacco, Case Keenum, and Teddy Bridgewater have effectively wasted the post-Manning era.
Enter, Kirk Cousins.
Cousins would have a ton of weapons at his disposal, more than he did in Minnesota. The Broncos would not have to deplete their roster or draft capital to make the trade happen. Denver’s defense ranked 3rd in points per game in 2021, and their offensive weaponry can be deadly.
The Denver Broncos are close, and perhaps a guy like Cousins can at least get them back into relevancy, while they attempt to find a longer term option via the draft.
Cousins would also be afforded a respectable offensive line in Denver, something Minnesota doesn’t have.
Giving Cousins more time to throw and a bigger pool of weapons to use would make him a fringe-MVP candidate.
Trade Destinations for Kirk Cousins – Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers might have the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. They gave up valuable draft capital for Sam Darnold, who subsequently continued his poor play in the NFL, and then proceeded to sign an embarrassingly washed-up Cam Newton.
After a messy 2021 season, Matt Rhule and company surely get 1 more year to figure this situation out.
There might be no one better to temporarily fix their issues than Kirk Cousins. Cousins isn’t someone who a team is going to rely on for the next half-decade, but the Panthers could use his services for a year or two while they attempt to develop a long-term answer.
Cousins is above average as a passer and would get to use some decent weapons in Carolina. He also gets to play in a now very winnable division in the NFC South, which features a rebuilding Falcons team, the Buccaneers who all of a sudden don’t have a quarterback, and the Saints, who are over the cap and need a full rebuild.
The Carolina Panthers are actually in a perfect situation to take the NFC South title in 2022. If they can swing a trade for a half-decent quarterback, they can make some noise.