The Vikings appear destined to become sellers at the trade deadline with a 1-4 record and star receiver Justin Jefferson on injured reserve. Even if the team is out of contention by the October 31 trade deadline, though, a deal involving quarterback Kirk Cousins should not be considered likely. 
The four-time Pro Bowler is expected to remain in place through the 2023 season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Cousins would need to waive his no-trade clause for any deal sending him (and his expiring contract) out of Minnesota to be possible, and that remains highly unlikely at this point. He declined to offer a firm response regarding his long-term future with the franchise when speaking publicly about his situation, but it would not come as a surprise to see him play out the campaign in familiar territory.
Cousins has been with the Vikings since 2018, but his status beyond 2023 has been in doubt since it was learned extension talks would not take place until after the season. Both the team and the 35-year-old have expressed interest in continuing their relationship, and no clear-cut successor is in place on the Vikings’ roster. However, the team’s ability to turn a slew of one-score wins into a division title last season has not been replicated in 2023, and Jefferson’s hamstring injury will keep him out until at least Week 11. It remains to be seen how competitive Minnesota will be by that point.
Due to a restructure from this past offseason, Cousins carries a base salary of just $10MM this year, which would make his contract a fairly absorbable one. As Schefter notes, however, the “perfect storm” would need to be in place – essentially, a team with a familiar offense losing its starter to a major injury – for Cousins to reconsider his stance. The Jets’ season took an unexpected turn when Aaron Rodgers suffered an Achilles tear four snaps into his New York career, leading to speculation connecting them to Cousins.
No trade talk is believed to have taken place between the Vikings and Jets, though, and the latter squad remains committed to Zach Wilson under center. Projected buyers ahead of the upcoming deadline have a well-established signal-caller, and teams with uncertainty at the QB position are highly unlikely to have a desire to acquire Cousins for the second half of the campaign. The latter’s market could thus be limited regardless of how he and the Vikings fare in the near future.
Jefferson’s status will be worth watching with respect to the urgency the team shows in bringing him back considering their projected dire status in the standings when he is able to return. His pending mega-extension represents another complicating factor is his desire to come back to their field in what could be a lost season. Jefferson will, in all likelihood, at least have a familiar face at the QB spot if/when he next suits up, though.
Unfortunately, Kirk does not have the “IT” that is able to propel the team to the next level. He may be adequate when following scripted plays and compile nice stats when doing so, but his lack of ability to improvise when the called play breaks down is holding both he and the team back. The release of players that was made necessary due to Kirk’s contract and cap hit have further regressed the level of team talent around him. It would seem like it is the time to move on.
They said the same thing about Stafford until he wound up on a Superbowl caliber team.The reality is most quarterbacks even great ones lack the IT factor when they’re not supported by great talent on both sides of the ball.
Cousins does not have what Stafford had. Cousins is a low charisma simperer. He “does his job” and inspires noone.
You say that but what did Stafford inspire all those years of futility in Detroit? Kirk is very well liked in the locker room and believe it or not has been way more successful than Stafford was before his move to LA.
Way more successful? Taking stacked teams to one and done is a strange measure of success. Kirk may be liked in the locker room (he’s pretty inoffensive) but that’s not admired/feared/followed. All three of those adjectives would apply to how teammates felt about Tom Brady.
So Dilfer and Flaco had “IT”. Some times the surrounding talent out weighs the QB regardless if he had “IT”.
He wasn’t going anywhere without a fully guaranteed long term extension. Kirk’s never been one to leave money on the table so idk why people thought he would even entertain the idea of being a rental.
He should’ve because MIN just let him know he isn’t coming back in offseason lol they also are showing they won’t be putting their best players on field. What does cousins stand to gain by staying in MIN? NOTHING!!!!
Cousins is hoping the Vikings will have no choice but to bring him back at close to $30 million.
There’s no market for Cousins even if he did waive his no trade clause. Rebuilding teams don’t want an aging expensive QB and potential contenders are already set. The Jets crapped out with Rodgers so they won’t be in any hurry to go down that road again.
Cousins would be an upgrade for many teams, but it’s the wrong time of year to be trying to move people with his kind of salary cap implications.
Just like his exit in DC; Kirk is betting on himself & we all know some team will pay him $38-42m next year. Good for Kirk. He understands and uses the system to his advantage. And I bet his next contract will be no more than 4 years.
The Vikings have not been losing because of Kirk and the offense the majority of the past five years. The bulk of the failure has come because the defense hasn’t been good enough.
But everyone said how much of a difference Brian Flores would make, guess not. Didn’t do much last year w/ Pitt’s LB’s as well.
Look at the money given to Daniel Jones and Derek Carr, mediocre quarterbacks making bank, Cousins is better than they are, he’s gonna be in a great position whatever decision he makes, I can think of a bunch of teams he’d be a huge upgrade, IT factor…..haha
Another team will get sucker-punched as the Vikings did, wasting contender years with a QB who is no leader of men and no big game hunter.