5 quarterback options for SF 49ers in wake of Matt Stafford trade
By Peter Panacy
SF 49ers Option No. 2: Kirk Cousins
Anytime there’s talk about the Niners potentially making changes at quarterback, the Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins is going to be brought up in the discussion.
Remember, Kyle Shanahan’s initial plan was to land Cousins as early as 2018 as the future of the franchise, only Jimmy Garoppolo’s 2017 trade from the New England Patriots negated that need. But a few years later, it seems San Francisco is willing to move on from Garoppolo and the Vikings aren’t exactly sold on Cousins.
Cousins wouldn’t command anything close to the kind of trade package Deshaun Watson would require. While Cousins has been effective for Minnesota over recent years, the Vikings making the playoffs just once in those last three years could ultimately force the team’s hand towards another offseason move.
One of the obstacles, though, is Cousins is set to make $21 million in guaranteed money in 2021, and the Vikings would have to be willing to eat $11 million in dead money if they elect to trade him.
Financially, it’s slightly better than Garoppolo. At least for the SF 49ers. And there’s a little bit of smoke there, too, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio suggesting a Cousins-to-Niners deal is certainly on the table.