A recent report appears to shut down the speculation about a possible trade between the Minnesota Vikings and the quarterback this offseason.
After Sam Darnold opted to sign with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency, the Vikings were left with a tough decision: either move forward with 2024 first-round pick JJ McCarthy as their starting quarterback or bring in a veteran through free agency or a trade. Ultimately, they chose to commit to McCarthy.
Despite some buzz suggesting Minnesota might consider bringing him back as a backup and mentor to McCarthy, that possibility now seems off the table. According to The Athletic’s NFL insider Dianna Russini, Kirk Cousins is reportedly not interested in any trade that would land him in a situation where he’s backing up a young quarterback—something similar to his experience in Atlanta last year.
With the Vikings likely out of the picture, the question now becomes: where might Cousins land if he’s traded?
Kirk Cousins’ 2024 stats: 14 games, 3,508 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, 88.6 passer rating, 66.9% completion rate.
Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers the current favorites for Kirk Cousins trade?
Russini suggests that the Minnesota Vikings might explore a potential trade involving Kirk Cousins in the near future. However, she views them as the least likely option among the interested teams. She did, however, highlight two teams that could be serious contenders if a trade does materialize.
In a post on X, Russini mentioned, “The Steelers, Browns, and possibly the Vikings could be part of the mix in a Kirk Cousins trade.”
Cousins is currently under contract for four years at $180 million. Despite speculation, it appears unlikely that either the Pittsburgh Steelers or Cleveland Browns will make a move in the immediate future. Reports this week indicated that the Atlanta Falcons, who hold Cousins’ contract, are seeking trade partners willing to absorb $20 million of the remaining $45 million in guarantees. League sources, however, believe that interested teams would likely be willing to take on only about $10 million.