We don’t yet know who will be the starting quarterback for the New York Jets next season, but chances are, it won’t be Zach Wilson under center in Week 1. Aaron Rodgers‘ pending decision is looming, but one NFL insider suggests Kirk Cousins could be another solution for Gang Green in 2023.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, if the Jets can’t land Rodgers in the Big Apple, they could turn to several other veteran options. He named off pending free agent Jimmy Garoppolo or potential trades for proven starters like Lamar Jackson, Matthew Stafford, and even Cousins.
Yes, Cousins is still under contract with the Minnesota Vikings, and all appearances suggest they don’t have a solid backup plan in place in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but the potential cap savings could offer intrigue for a team currently over the spending limit.
- Kirk Cousins’ stats last season: 65.9% completion rate, 4,547 passing yards, 29 TD, 14 INT
Cousins is likely looking at some sort of extension this offseason, yet the team appears hesitant to agree to another one-year contract. For now, the 35-year-old QB holds a $36.2 million cap number for 2023. The Vikings could see a cap savings of $17.5 million by trading their QB of the past five seasons.
Yet, obviously, they would then need to scramble either on the free agent market, via trade, or somehow trade up in the 2023 NFL Draft, despite having limited capital to do so. In other words, we don’t expect a Cousins trade this offseason, barring a shocking deal for another capable starter inking a contract to join Justin Jefferson.