Ex-NFL scout sees QB Kirk Cousins being traded to the Denver Broncos

As the season begins melting down in Minnesota, everyone can see that things can not stay the same going forward.

There is no way both Vikings’ head coach, Mike Zimmer and team quarterback (QB), Kirk Cousins return in 2022.

Normally, the quarterbacks win these power struggles, but not this time.

Look for Zimmer to return next season, and look for Cousins to be traded to Denver. 

Why Denver?

Two reasons.

First, Denver needs a QB.

The second reason is the Broncos’ general manager, George Paton, came from the Vikings.

This is how the NFL likes to do business. 

The Broncos have lost their way since QB Payton Manning was in town and Cousins would seem to be the answer, at least he appears to be the answer statistically speaking. Cousins played for six years in Washington and four years in Minnesota, while producing only one playoff victory. Other than that, he’s a great guy who puts up numbers and he wins a lot of fantasy leagues.

Minnesota’s management will be able to sell it to their buddy Paton and Paton will be able to sell it to the Broncos’ nation. 

Recently Paton began getting the red carpet ready, by giving monster contract extensions to two of Denver’s wide receivers, Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick. The moves kept Denver’s receivers in place for the “next QB” of the team, but more importantly, the moves gave Denver more salary-cap space. 

The restructures with Sutton and Patrick are said to have opened up $37 million dollars of cap space. Ironically, Cousins’s cap number next season (in the final year of his current contract) is $35 million. 

Look for Denver to deal their first-round pick to Minnesota (currently 14th) and perhaps another pick in exchange for Cousins. 

Minnesota holds a first-rounder of their own (currently 10th) and with Denver’s pick, as well they will either take a QB with one of those two picks or package those picks to move up to get the QB they want. 

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated Detroit Lions, Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is a contributing evaluator for Draft Diamonds. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @danielkellybook and his Facebook page is WHATEVER IT TAKES NFL TALK.