Kirk Cousins, the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings, has been linked to a struggling AFC squad.
Just one year after winning the NFC North with a 13-4 record, the Vikings are 0-3 and probably won’t make the playoffs.
The Vikings made a notable choice in the offseason not to give Cousins a contract extension as his contract year approached. The 35-year-old Cousins will probably be traded if the Vikings are out of the postseason picture before the deadline to teams wanting to improve at the most crucial position in the game.
Could the Las Vegas Raiders become a potential destination for Cousins?
The four-time Pro Bowler has a number of potential destinations, according to Mark Powell of FanSided. One of those groups included the Las Vegas Raiders, who have a dismal record of 1-2 after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers at home in Week 3:
“If Sunday night proved anything, it’s that the Raiders as currently constructed will not be winning much of anything this season. Jimmy Garoppolo is a fine quarterback, but he is not built to spread the ball around to this many weapons. Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Renfrow and more deserve someone like Cousins…
Josh McDaniels is on the hot seat and may be fired by the end of the season if Vegas doesn’t turn things around…Cousins is the ultimate win-now pickup. His contract isn’t guaranteed beyond this season, and he’s a proven veteran. Shoot your shot, Vegas.”
The #Vikings are 0-3 despite:
Kirk Cousins leading the league in passing yards (1,075).
Justin Jefferson leading the league in receiving yards (458).
Danielle Hunter leading the league in sacks (5).
Make it make sense. pic.twitter.com/rhdlGv2Zfb
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 24, 2023
The Raiders oddly signed the injury-prone Jimmy Garoppolo to a three-year contract last year after releasing veteran quarterback Derek Carr. Since joining the Minny in 2018, Cousins has been a reliable producer, in contrast to Garoppolo, whose career to this date has been hampered by injuries and uneven play.
In the Raiders' first two games, the OL allowed just 11 total pressures.
On Sunday night, the Steelers pressured Jimmy Gaappolo a whopping 20 times. Sheesh.
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) September 25, 2023
Cousins, who would be an immediate improvement over Garoppolo as a passer, would be a more effective option for Las Vegas’ offensive. At this early stage of the season, would the Raiders truly explore a quarterback change? Only time will tell, but as Powell pointed out, Josh McDaniels is likely coaching for his job, so it might be worth a chance.