Free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers may or may not choose to affix the Minnesota Vikings over the Pittsburgh Steelers this spring. Nonetheless, there was no indication coming off the Easter vacation that the Vikings wish to begin Rodgers over 2024 first-round draft choose J.J. McCarthy.
For an article printed on Monday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter indicated folks with the Vikings and Steelers have not slammed the door shut relating to a potential commerce for present Atlanta Falcons backup Kirk Cousins. Cousins misplaced his beginning job to 2024 rookie Michael Penix Jr. this previous December.
“Atlanta has requested for any buying crew to pay $20M of the $45M price of ensures left on Cousins’ contract,” Schefter defined. “So far, no crew has been keen to try this, and no crew is anticipated to be keen to. However what occurs this weekend — and which franchises come out of the draft with or with out rookie quarterbacks — may affect how a lot assured cash a crew is likely to be keen to soak up on Cousins’ contract. There’s a feeling across the league {that a} crew, whether or not it’s the Vikings or Steelers, is likely to be keen to pay down roughly $10M.”
Whereas Cousins beforehand performed properly beneath Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell from September 2022 up till the 36-year-old suffered a torn Achilles in October 2023, Cousins additionally has a full no-trade clause hooked up to his contract and reportedly doesn’t want a team eager about buying him to pick out a quarterback within the first spherical of the upcoming draft. That mentioned, he could not have many choices out there to him if it is true that the Cleveland Browns aren’t interested in buying and selling for his companies.
One would assume O’Connell would solely push for a Cousins commerce if McCarthy has a tough spring as he continues to get well from the full meniscus repair that sidelined him for all of final season. In the meantime, Pittsburgh could draft a quarterback like Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart within the first spherical on Thursday evening.
Maybe Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin may persuade Cousins to relocate to the Metal Metropolis by promising the veteran he’ll begin over longtime backup Mason Rudolph and a first-year professional by way of no less than a portion of the 2025 season. Dart and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe are to-be rookies who’ve been linked with the Steelers and are thought of initiatives for the longer term who ought to sit behind a confirmed starter this fall.
“How a lot any crew can be keen to pay additionally would affect the compensation it offers up,” Schefter added a few membership probably buying and selling for Cousins. “The upper the fee, the decrease the draft compensation; the decrease the fee, the upper the draft compensation. The Falcons and Cousins, who has a no-trade clause, acknowledge their future just isn’t collectively, and the way it will play out may very properly be influenced by this draft.”
In brief, Rodgers could not wish to wait an excessive amount of longer to simply accept any provide he is obtained from the Steelers except he is keen to probably lose that gig to Cousins as quickly as the ultimate weekend of April.
