Vikings

Kirk Cousins Linked To Steelers As Possible Ben Roethlisberger Replacement

Photo Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn (USA TODAY Sports)

Thursday night will be classic must-win spot for the Minnesota Vikings when they welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers on a short week— but will it also be a peek into the NFL future?

On one end of the spectrum is Ben Roethlisberger, who just led a comeback against the Baltimore Ravens. Big Ben has made it clear to those closest to him that this will be his last year in Pittsburgh. On the other end is Kirk Cousins, whose status with his team next season is an open question, even in the midst of the best statistical year of his career. It begs the question: Could Cousins be playing in front of his next team on Thursday night? One Pittsburgh insider believes it’s possible.

The Steelers will undoubtedly be in the market for a quarterback this offseason. Mason Rudolph is not the guy to fill Ben’s shoes, and Dwayne Haskins is too busy checking his phone to worry about getting another chance to start in the NFL. It could leave Pittsburgh looking towards the trade market. And, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Derek Carr and Kirk Cousins are two names to keep tabs on.

“Two other tradable veteran quarterbacks to keep an eye on are Carr and Cousins, who both have one year left on their deals. Both the Raiders and the Vikings appear at a crossroads with their respective quarterbacks and coaching staffs,” Pryor wrote. “The Raiders (6-5) already fired Jon Gruden, while Vikings coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman are approaching the hot seat with the Vikings sitting at 5-7. If ownership decides to start fresh in either situation, the Steelers could make a play for Cousins or Carr, although Cousins is the most expensive of the bunch.”

While it’s almost a sure thing the Steelers will be in the market for a quarterback, the real question is whether or not the Vikings make Cousins available if there’s a blowup of operations across the board.

If Mike Zimmer is let go at the end of the year, it’s logical to think he’ll be the scapegoat for what could turn out to be a foul season. When things go south, someone has to take the fall. In Carolina, Matt Rhule just ditched offensive coordinator Joe Brady. What’s going on with the Panthers and their struggles hardly has anything to do with Brady, but someone had to wear it. Rhule chose Brady. If Zimmer is the odd man out for Minnesota, they could easily opt to run it back with Cousins, who has played pretty damn good ball this year.

On the other hand, if Zimmer is let go and a new coach comes in, that new coach may have stylistic approaches that make Cousins a poor fit on the newly remade team. All of it leads to one big guessing game for the time being.

The talent Cousins has around him in Minnesota is as good as a quarterback could ask for with Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and Dalvin Cook. It hasn’t correlated to much success this year, though. Might Minnesota ask if Cousins is part of the issue, despite what his numbers suggest? It’s possible. If Cousins is deemed to be one of the better quarterbacks in the league with that sort of talent, he should have more than five wins through 13 weeks, regardless of the circumstances. The array of options on Minnesota’s offense is tremendous, but the situation in Pittsburgh isn’t too shabby either.

The Steelers have an embarrassment of riches, and most of their best players are just getting started. Guys like Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, and Najee Harris provide a dream scenario for most quarterbacks. They know they just need a quarterback whose arm isn’t getting ready to fall off.

Thursday night will be a lot of things. It will be the Vikings fighting for their playoff lives, and the Steelers trying to keep the good vibes going after knocking off Baltimore. It will also be a potential showcase for Cousins in front of a team that could make an aggressive pursuit of him this offseason.

Vikings
Did the Vikings Ultimately Come Out Ahead In Free Agency?
By Arif Hasan - Mar 28, 2024
Vikings
There’s Joy To Be Found In This Tumultuous Transition Period In Vikings History
By Tyler Haag - Mar 28, 2024
Vikings

Harrison Smith Has Become Minnesota's Lone Survivor

Photo Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn (USA TODAY Sports)

In 2023, Pioneer Press reporter Chris Tomasson asked Harrison Smith about his contract situation. Smith responded with a picture of Minnesota icon Prince. Earlier this year, when […]

Continue Reading