The Vikings season ended less than two weeks ago and Kirk Cousins has already been linked a return to Minnesota, the Atlanta Falcons and now the Miami Dolphins.
In a recent story looking at what the Dolphins should do with QB Tua Tagovailoa, The Athletic’s Mike Sando put forth the idea that Miami should trade Tua and bring in Kirk.
“The equation here is that Cousins and a draft pick (or picks) would be better than continuing with Tagovailoa,” wrote Sando. “The Dolphins do not have third- or fourth-round picks in the upcoming draft, so they could use the capital. Cousins, a free agent in March, would have to prioritize Miami as his preferred landing spot, which seemingly would be easy for him, given what the Dolphins offer in terms of McDaniel’s personality, the scheme and weaponry.”
After the Vikings and Cousins were unable to come to an agreement on an extension last offseason it set the two sides on a path where the veteran QB could become a free agent for the first time since 2018. With the Vikings in a tight cap bind the potential for Cousins’ departure is significantly high.
Miami on the other hand are left questioning their long-term future at quarterback after Tua no-showed in the team’s wild card round loss to the Chiefs. The former fifth-overall pick is heading into the final year of his rookie deal.
Sando noted an exec told him, “Your upside with Tua certainly seems limited” and that Miami’s resources would be “better spent on Cousins plus draft picks than they are on just Tua.” The Dolphins don’t have their third or fourth round picks, so could use Tua as bait to shore up their depleted draft capital.
Cousins will be a hot commodity if the 36-year-old reaches free agency, even with the lingering Achilles injury rehab hanging over him. Teams like the Falcons and Steelers have rosters seemingly set to compete, but lack a viable QB to lead them. Cousins said he would find it hard to “turn down an opportunity to play with a future Hall of Fame coach” when asked if he would like to play for Bill Belichick, who is heavily rumored to be going to Atlanta.
Miami being linked to Cousins comes down to the long rumored flirtation between Kirk and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. Miami’s head coach Mike McDaniels was the offensive coordinator under Shanahan before taking over the Dolphins, and worked with Cousins when the three were in Washington.
“I don’t know if it is the best one. You really have to be in that building to know, but if you are looking for alternatives, there is a pretty good one,” one exec told Sando.
