In six days the NFL’s legal tampering period opens and on March 13 there will undoubtedly be a wave of free-agent signings announced as the new league year begins.
Where will Kirk Cousins wind up? The consensus right now appears to be one of two places: Minnesota or Atlanta, with the latter now the betting favorite to sign him. And if Cousins doesn’t put pen to paper with the Vikings, the Vikings will be hunting for a new QB via trade, free agency and/or the draft.
One name that continues to surface is Justin Fields, who turned 25 years old on Tuesday and is believed to be on his way out of Chicago as the Bears look to start fresh at quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the draft.
ESPN’s Todd McShay believes the Falcons, Steelers and Vikings are the three “most likely” teams that could trade for Fields.
“Justin will get moved. Kirk Cousins is probably going to have to get moved first. We’ll have to see where he lands. But I think the three most likely – and I’d be shocked if it’s not one of these teams – to land Justin Fields are Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Minnesota – and maybe in that order,” McShay said Tuesday on The Ryen Russillo Podcast.
McShay thinks a third-round pick this year and maybe a conditional third- or fourth-round pick in the 2025 draft will be enough to acquire Fields from the Bears.
If McShay is right and Fields winds up with the Falcons, Steelers or Vikings, then we’re really talking about a two-team race since Cousins likely ends up with the Falcons or Vikings.
However, Twin Cities sports insider Darren Wolfson said Tuesday on SKOR North’s Minnesota Sports with Mackey & Judd that he’s not hearing anything connecting the Vikings to Fields.
“From a very reliable source – I am reporting this – there has not been any dialogue to this point, as of Monday night, between the Vikings and Bears,” Wolfson said. “I cannot connect any dots to them have any interest, legit interest, in Justin Fields.”
Wolfson went on to say that recent reports linking the Vikings to Trey Lance, Jacoby Brissett and Sam Darnold is legitimate.
The Vikings in the past have had trade interest in Trey Lance. So this regime has had interest in Trey Lance so we can connect those dots,” Wolfson said. “The Sam Darnold steam from a few weeks ago, that is legit. Especially now with Josh McCown on staff, a former teammate of Sam’s with the Jets. Sam Darnold absolutely is a name that makes sense.”
