PurplePTSD: Report: An NFC Team Called About A Cousins Trade

Press release from the PurplePTSD:

K. Joudry

2022-02-22

Apparently, the Carolina Panthers called the Vikings to inquire about a trade for Kirk Cousins.

Judd Zulgad of SKOR North offered the report: “They have gotten a call. Now, from what I’ve heard, it went nowhere so far.” He goes on: “But it’s interesting that the phone did ring at TCO [Stadium] in Eagen and on the other end of the line . . . the Carolina Panthers.”

For the Vikings, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to make the decision right away (as Zulgad suggests). Rather, start chipping away at the salary cap. There are plenty of ways to create room without even approaching #8 for a re-worked deal. In fact, I wrote a piece last week about how the Vikings could put $27.7 million into their pocket without even discussing Dalvin Cook or Captain Kirk. Finding ways to create this room will help put the team in a position of strength should they try to re-work the Cousins deal. Doing so ensures they don’t need Cousins to adjust his deal for the team to get under the cap.

Pulling off a trade, though, would clear $35 million, instantly putting the Vikings under the cap by nearly $20 million. Making some of those aforementioned moves would therefore give the team upwards of $40+ million. The chances of finding a QB who could replicate KC’s impressive stats would be next to none, though the overall roster would likely take a great step forward.

For whatever it’s worth, the Panthers could accommodate the Kirk Cousins contract. OTC indicates that they currently have $15 million in 2022 space but more than $110 million in 2023. In other words, a few restructures could do the trick. Furthermore, Sam Darnold’s (nearly) $19 million cap hit would fully come off the books through a trade.

As with pretty much everything else in our crazy world, we’ll need to wait and see. Just know that the Panthers won’t be alone when it comes to calling about Minnesota’s QB1.

This press release was produced by the PurplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author’s own.