The San Francisco 49ers could sensationally move for Kirk Cousins to address their complicated quarterback situation due to the history between head coach Kyle Shanahan and the Minnesota Vikings star.
Shanahan has remained a fan of Cousins since he entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. The 34-year-old is a fairly divisive quarterback as he has built a reputation for being productive in the regular season but faltering under the bright lights of prime time games and the postseason.
This was a reality for Cousins in 2022 as his Vikings won the NFC North for the first time since 2017. They tallied a 13-4 record before losing in Minnesota to the New York Giants in the Wild Card round of the playoffs - and despite the 49ers reaching the NFC Championship Game, it appears the 49ers could be interested in moving for Cousins.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio revealed a trade concerning Cousins to the 49ers was heavily discussed at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last month. Shanahan and Cousins worked together in Washington and there has been plenty of speculation that the pair could link back up.
“Apparently, at the scouting combine there was some chatter, there was some noise, among people within the broader league structure, not the media, but people in the league about Cousins being traded to the 49ers,” Florio said last week. “That was a hot topic at one point in Indianapolis.”
Rumours linking the 49ers with Cousins have lingered ever since Shanahan took the job in the Bay Area ahead of the 2017 NFL season. Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for two seasons when Cousins played for Washington, with the coach instrumental in the franchise drafting him in the 2012 NFL Draft.
However, a move never arrived as the 49ers went into the 2017 campaign with Brian Hoyer as their starting quarterback before they acquired Jimmy Garoppolo in a midseason trade with the New England Patriots. The franchise then signed Garoppolo to a record-breaking five-year contract in the offseason while Cousins left Washington for the Vikings in free agency.
It’s no surprise to see Shanahan and the 49ers linked with a quarterback the head coach clearly admires. However, there is something of a crowded and convoluted quarterback room in San Francisco, with Brock Purdy, Trey Lance and free agent signing Sam Darnold.
Purdy is scheduled to be fully fit from ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) surgery after injuring his elbow in the NFC Championship Game by Week 4 in the upcoming 2023 NFL season. Meanwhile, Lance suffered a season-ending injury himself when he broke his ankle in Week 2 and the jury is still out over whether the 2021 third overall pick can become the player the 49ers hoped when they drafted him.
