How deep was Kyle Shanahan’s desire to acquire quarterback Kirk Cousins after Shanahan signed on to be the 49ers’ head coach? Apparently bad enough to send out his top asset in the 2017 draft.
In a fascinating story by Alec Lewis in the Athletic about Cousins, Shanahan’s dad, Mike, relayed that San Francisco was ready to deal the No. 2 pick in the 2017 draft to Washington in exchange for the veteran QB.
Buy 49ers Tickets“He knew Kirk knew his system, and he knew the type of guy Kirk was,” Mike Shanahan said via the Athletic. “But (Washington) wouldn’t even return the phone call.”
It’s unclear whether it was to be a straight across swap or if the 49ers would also have asked for Washington’s No. 17 pick in the deal. A direct trade of the second pick for Cousins seems unlikely though given the 49ers’ lack of talent at the time and their need for draft capital to help build out their roster.
Had the 49ers acquired Cousins and the 17th pick, then used the 17th pick on the same player Washington drafted, Jonathan Allen, they certainly would’ve come out of the draft with a better pair of players than the two they wound up drafting that year (DL Solomon Thomas and LB Reuben Foster – acquired via a trade up late in Round 1).
On the other hand, every action has a reaction so the ensuing years may or may not have come with as much success for San Francisco. Cousins’ tenure with the Vikings has produced just two (2) playoff trips and one (1) playoff win, so the 49ers are likely thankful Washington wasn’t interested in doing business ahead of the 2017 draft.
Shanahan has since tamped down on the notion that he specifically wants Cousins to run his system. However, if he still feels like Cousins is the key to all of this though, the QB will be a free agent next season and there’s an easy path to draw to San Francisco finding itself in the quarterback market once again. All the 49ers head coach would have to hope for this time is for Cousins to answer the phone.
