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Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio revealed that the San Francisco 49ers are exploring a trade to bring in quarterback Kirk Cousins. The NBC Sports personality also shared that the potential move was the chatter among league executives during the NFL Scouting Combine. Florio said:
“Apparently, at the Scouting Combine, there was some chatter, there was some noise among people within the broader league structure, not the media, but people in the league about Cousins being traded to the 49ers. That was a hot topic at one point in Indianapolis.”
Some factors come into play in making this trade scenario work. First, current 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was Cousins’ offensive coordinator in Washington for two seasons. Moreover, the Vikings restructured Cousins’ contract to make it look like he won’t be a part of the team after 2023.
49ers Will Listen To Trade Offers
Aside from converting Cousins’ $20 million roster bonus into a signing bonus, the Vikings added two void years to his contract. This development saved $16 million in cap space. Minnesota will absorb a $28.5 million cap hit if they don’t sign the veteran quarterback to a long-term deal.
If the trade pushes through, the Vikings will likely ask for a quarterback in return. Florio opened up the possibility of trading away 2021 third-overall pick Trey Lance. He shared 49ers general manager John Lynch's view, who said:
“We like Trey on our team right now. Kyle [Shanahan] and I always joke about we’d trade each other if someone would give us a good enough deal. So, we listen to anything, but we like Trey on our team.”
“We’re very excited by the way he’s progressing, about his opportunity. I think he’s chomping at the bit to get back out there, get back under center, and be healthy again.”
Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 of the 2022 season. Meanwhile, the 49ers traded their 2021 first-rounder (12th overall), 2022 first-rounder, 2022 third-rounder, and 2023 first-rounder to the Miami Dolphins to move up the board.
Florio believes that getting Lance helps the Vikings address their salary cap better. It also gives the third-year player a much-needed reset. He said:
“At this point, Cousins has redone his deal. It's a $38 million cap charge, but you know what, if you're gonna swap out Kirk Cousins, you bring in a guy who's under a low-cost contract like Trey Lance. Trey Lance, North Dakota State. Close to home. Gets a chance. Gets a chance to resurrect his career... He needs a fresh start.”
Kirk Cousins as the 49ers’ Bridge Quarterback?
Brock Purdy earned the right to become San Francisco’s starting quarterback after a magnificent 2022 season. However, he might not be ready come Week 1 of 2023 as he is undergoing rehabilitation for his surgically-repaired elbow.
With Purdy likely to be out indefinitely, the 49ers also brought in Sam Darnold to bring stability to the position. But trading for Cousins gives them a reliable play-caller that allows them to fight for a postseason berth. Last season, Cousins threw for 4,547 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, San Francisco came up one game short of a Super Bowl appearance, but injuries to their quarterbacks limited their winning chances. An injured Purdy returned to the NFC Championship game after Josh Johnson suffered a concussion.
With the Niners weathering the storm at quarterback, Mike Florio is keen on Cousins suiting up in red and gold in 2023.
