The Minnesota Vikings have a significant decision to make regarding the future of the most important position in the NFL.
NFL teams are not permitted to negotiate with other clubs’ pending free agents until March 11, but Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell recently suggested that Kirk Cousins, their soon-to-be free-agent quarterback, has already drawn inquiries from around the league. Not only that, but O’Connell indicated that Cousins’ departure may well be on the horizon.
“Yeah, I think the (scouting) combine just kinda gave everybody else an opportunity — even whether they’re supposed to be or not — to maybe have some conversations,” O’Connell told NFL Network when asked where contract talks stand with Cousins. “But I’ve been having the dialogue that you have with a player like Kirk Cousins … I know Kirk, where he’s at in this whole process. He’s earned the right to be a free agent. He’s played really good football.
“I’ve had a blast coaching him, his fit in the offense,” O’Connell continued. “I know Kirk’s gonna go through a full process. He is a process guy. And hopefully, we continue to be a strong part in that process and we figure out a way to keep him with the Minnesota Vikings. But my expectation is we’re not gonna be the only ones that would like Kirk Cousins to be the quarterback of our team in 2024.’
Cousins seems like an increasingly safe bet to test the open market. Both he and Vikings brass have repeatedly expressed an interest in staying together, but there’s been no apparent progress in any contract talks since the quarterback entered 2023 without an extension. And other quarterback-needy teams, namely the Atlanta Falcons, could make a lucrative play for his services.
”It’s Minnesota or Atlanta,” Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk said,
Minnesota Vikings Could Take Chance And Trade For Former First-Round QB Trey Lance If Kirk Cousins Signs With Another Team
If Cousins does in fact leave for another team and can’t reach a deal with Minnesota, the Vikings will be yet another NFL team in the quarterback market.
Florio has mentioned Russell Wilson as a potential fit for the Minnesota Vikings as he would be a cheap option who could plug right in as the starting QB and mentor a young signal caller they acquire through the NFL Draft.
But NFL Insider Rich Eisen has heard the Vikings may take a gamble to replace Kirk Cousins.
“A possible solve at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings is a native of the state and his name is Trey Lance,” Eisen said. “Trey Lance is a possible solve for the Vikings. Now, the Cowboys kept him on the roster long enough to get a bonus. So they’re paying money to keep him. And as you know, they got him for a five. I’m just wondering if the Vikings flip them a three. A Friday night pick? Do they go ahead and do that?”
Minnesota does not currently have a third-round pick but does own two in the fourth. No. 109 and No. 130 could theoretically be used to trade for Lance. Dallas certainly could use the draft capital considering they only have three picks inside of the top 150.
Adding another quality pick for what is their third-string quarterback could be a solid move for the Cowboys and Jerry Jones.
Eisen pointed out how Lance has a fifth-year option decision upcoming. He just wrapped up his third season in the NFL after being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Dallas is already paying Trey Lance around $4.5 million to be on the 2024 roster but is likely to decline the option and see him hit free agency next offseason.
It’s hard to tell whether Lance would be able to play immediately as a NFL starter for the Minnesota Vikings, but this is an interesting scenario if Kirk Cousins signs with another team.
Trey Lance did not make an appearance for Dallas in 2023 and was not active during most game weeks. Cooper Rush was the primary backup to Dak Prescott and if an injury occurred, Rush would have gone into the game.