There have been a lot of rumors swirling around about the future of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. On an expiring contract, he has been the subject of trade rumors around the league as teams are in need of a veteran to lead their offense.
Kirk Cousins would have full say over where he is traded if he is dealt at all, as he possesses a full no-trade clause. From the sounds of it, there are no plans for him to be on the move ahead of the deadline, but things could quickly change.
At 2-4 after their victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 6, the Vikings kept their slim playoff hopes alive. If they want any chance to turn things around completely, they will be keeping Kirk Cousins in the fold.
But, there is certainly an argument to be made that trading him would be the best course of action for the future of the franchise. Dealing him ahead of the October 31st deadline would put them squarely in the running for a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, giving them a chance to pick one of the top quarterback prospects.
When looking around the league, there are certainly a few teams that would benefit from adding a player of Kirk Cousins’ caliber to their roster. In the opinion of one former NFL executive who spoke to NFL Analysis Network, one team sticks out among the rest; the Indianapolis Colts.
“With the news that Anthony Richardson will miss the rest of the season, the Colts are an ideal fit for Kirk (Cousins). They have a roster built to win and are simply missing a quarterback. Cousins would put them on the map in the AFC.”
The Colts are 3-3 after getting trounced by the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6. Gardner Minshew is set to be the team’s starting quarterback going forward as Anthony Richardson deals with a shoulder injury that may keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Richardson is the future of the franchise, but on an expiring deal, Kirk Cousins would be an excellent stopgap option for the team. Adding him could elevate the Colts into another tier in the AFC, especially with Jonathan Taylor ramping up his work after missing the first four weeks of the season.
Kirk Cousins would be a sizable upgrade over Minshew, but it is fair to wonder how much Indianapolis would be willing to acquire him as a rental. They know they aren’t going to be competing for a Super Bowl this season, so trading away assets this season may not be seen as the correct course of action.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Colts ride things out this season with Minshew and retain all of their assets to continue building the roster up around Richardson next offseason.
