With my Minnesota Vikings falling to 0-2 after a Thursday night loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, they are now projected to have only a 10% chance of making the postseason. Coming off an inexplicable 13-win season last year, the 2023 Vikes were expected to once again win the NFC North and then make a run in the playoffs. That could still happen, but man they've dug themselves a hole. And it's painfully obvious through the first two games that the Vikings have some serious issues, particularly the perpetual deficiencies along the offensive line. Again, that's not to say the season is over but a "must win" scenario in week three at home against the Los Angeles Chargers is not optimal.
So.....is it time to burn it all down and start anew as some have suggested? I'm not convinced of that, but it's interesting how so many NFL talking heads have suggested that a trade of quarterback Kirk Cousins actually makes sense from the Vikings' perspective.
"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
Update...
— Phil Mackey 🎙 (@PhilMackey) September 15, 2023
Greeny and Bart Scott just said the Jets should call the Vikings and offer a 1st round pick for Kirk Cousins.
A - Would you do this if you ran the Vikings (me - yes)
B - Would Kirk Cousins waive his no-trade clause to play for the Jets?
Juicy.
It's early in the #NFL season but @richeisen says #TakeFlight should make a YOLO trade offer to #SKOL for Kirk Cousins:#NFL #TNF pic.twitter.com/5wpnCDaJbZ
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) September 15, 2023
When the Vikings were looking to sign Cousins as a free agent prior to the 2018 season, there was one other serious suitor for Cousins' services - the New York Jets. Ultimately the Vikes won the bidding war due to guaranteeing a then unheard of 3-year, $84 million pact. Cousins has since put up good numbers in a Vikings uniform but is still dogged by the fact he's won only one postseason game in six seasons in Minnesota.
On the other hand, the Jets, who went all in on future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers this year only to see his season end after four snaps, are built to win now given they have a championship caliber defense and outstanding young offensive players at the skill positions. Their one glaring weakness? Quarterback. While third year man Zach Wilson may eventually evolve into the franchise QB the Jets have long sought, he's definitely not ready to lead a team to a Super Bowl this season. So do the Jets believe Cousins could be that guy? Well, again, he's been a starter for eight full seasons while making the playoffs only three times and winning all of one game. While that's not exactly a championship pedigree, perhaps the Jets believe that merely a very good (not great) quarterback is all that's needed to lead them to the proverbial Promised Land. And given Cousins has only one year remaining on his deal, this would truly be an all or nothing scenario.
If all this were as simple as the Jets needing a QB and thus willing to offer a first rounder for Cousins, they likely would've been on the phone to Minnesota by now. However, there are other factors to weigh. First, does the Vikings' brass consider this season a lost cause? I doubt it, but I obviously have no insight into their thinking. But even if the Vikes entertain an offer for Cousins, they still have to entice him to waive his no-trade clause. Again, there's no way to know for sure if he'd be willing to do so.
Bottom line: Cousins will stay put in Minnesota. Whether it's due to his rejecting a trade request or the Vikings willing to stand pat is what'll be the most interesting aspect of all this.
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