Insider reacts to rumor linking 49ers with Vikings' Kirk Cousins

San Francisco 49ers reporter Matt Barrows of The Athletic sounds unconvinced the club could get into a bidding war with the Los Angeles Rams over Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins next offseason. 

"They’d probably have to rethink the way they’ve organized their salary cap," Barrows wrote about the 49ers potentially trying to sign Cousins assuming the veteran reaches free agency after the 2023 season. "The other reason this seems unlikely — at least, for now — is Brock Purdy. Yes, (49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan) loves Cousins. He has championed Cousins, now 34, since he was Washington’s offensive coordinator in 2012, the year Washington chose the quarterback in the fourth round. But he suspects he now has a younger, cheaper and more mobile version of Cousins in Purdy, who is 11 years younger." 

Barrows was responding to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, who first said in April that "there was some chatter" at the scouting combine about Minnesota possibly trading Cousins to San Francisco this spring or summer. Florio more recently linked Cousins with both the 49ers and Rams, and both Florio and Barrows mentioned that Shanahan could like that Cousins has a history of remaining healthy. 

During the 2022 season Shanahan lost Purdy, Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo to serious injuries. Purdy underwent surgery on March 10 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow but reportedly is on track to start the Week 1 game at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10. 

Barrows did say Shanahan "rekindling his interest in Cousins" is possible if Purdy suffers another setback and both Lance, a 2021 first-round draft pick, and free-agency signing Sam Darnold fail to impress. While Purdy became a rookie sensation last December, some forget he's only made eight career NFL starts (playoffs included) and attempted just 170 regular-season passes during his debut pro campaign. 

Barrows pointed out Cousins is "certainly not Plan A (for the 49ers) like he was back in 2017." Shanahan needed a Plan C at the position during Week 13 last season, and he could find himself in a similar scenario by February 2024.