Jets May Have Interest in Kirk Cousins

Photo: Matt Krohn - USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets need a quarterback and they’re doing everything they can to court Aaron Rodgers away from Green Bay. But after a face-to-face meeting last week, there’s still no deal imminent.

Could Jets Call on Kirk Cousins?

That has NFL insiders asking “what’s next?”, should the Jets swing and miss on Rodgers. Well, the very plugged in Dan Graziano (ESPN) threw an interesting name into the ring on Sunday morning, mentioning Kirk Cousins as a QB who could be on the trade block “for one reason or another”.

If [trading for Aaron Rodgers] doesn’t work out for the Jets, I expect them to take a run at Jimmy Garoppolo but to also consider other options, including trades for veterans (Lamar Jackson? Kirk Cousins? Matthew Stafford?) who could be on the block for one reason or another.

Dan Graziano – ESPN

At first, this felt like hyperbole for the purpose of getting clicks. But on second thought, maybe not. It’s become clear that the recent exodus of previously marquee players like Adam Thielen and Eric Kendricks have raised eyebrows around the league.

And rumors have been floating that suggest Dalvin Cook and/or Harrison Smith could be next to go. Clearly, those around the league are watching the Vikings closely.

Vikings prioritizing future over winning now

There’s a sense that the Minnesota Vikings have become sellers who are stocking up cap space for next offseason, where they are already slated to have about $70 million in room to work with. It’s not just about who has been, or who might be, released.

For example, Kwesi could have spread out Adam Thielen’s rather large ($13.5 million) dead cap hit by designating the D2 football legend as a post June 1 cut. Instead, he chose to take all of Thielen’s dead money on in 2023.

Kwesi doesn’t seem very interested in extending Kirk Cousins, either. Instead, the Vikings are expected to ride out the final season of the 34.5-year-old QB’s current contract.

For a team that desperately needs cap relief in 2023, these are curious decisions to make… if they want to win now. Which is why many across the NFL, including Jeremy Fowler (ESPN), are watching the situation at TCO Performance Center very closely.

Dan’s mention of Cousins is interesting, given Minnesota’s recent cost-cutting measures. If the Jets miss out on Rodgers, why not place that call to Minnesota with the chance to give Cousins a new deal? Cousins and Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell appear closely aligned, but it wouldn’t hurt to check. For now, he’s not under contract beyond 2023.

Jeremy Fowler – ESPN

If the Minnesota Vikings aren’t prioritizing winning in 2023, then why wouldn’t they cash in on every short-term asset possible? Including Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook and anyone else who may not be in their long-term plans?

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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