Trading for Kirk Cousins may not have been Vikings' first choice for new QB

An reunion became official ahead of Tuesday's NFL trade deadline when it was learned that a Minnesota Vikings team in desperate need of an upgrade at quarterback was sending the Las Vegas Raiders a 2027 third-round draft pick for veteran Kirk Cousins. 

It sounds like bringing Cousins back to Minnesota may not have been the Vikings' first choice.

Vikings also did homework on possible trade for...

According to well-known NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Vikings "also inquired about" Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers, Daniel Jones of the Indianapolis Colts and Geno Smith of the New York Jets. Schultz suggested that none of those signal-callers became realistic options for the Vikings before Minnesota agreed to acquire Cousins. 

What the Vikings learned about Justin Herbert

"The Chargers, I’m told, immediately shut down all inquiries for Herbert, who also has a no-trade clause," Schultz revealed. 

The Chargers signed Herbert to a five-year, $262.5M contract extension in the summer of 2023, but the 28-year-old became the subject of trade rumors this fall before the Chargers fell to 0-8 on the season. That said, the Chargers seemingly weren't willing to hit a figurative reset button ahead of the trade deadline and will now likely hold onto Herbert through at least the start of the 2027 campaign. 

What the Vikings learned about Daniel Jones

Jones worked with Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell when the signal-caller was with Minnesota from late November 2024 through the end of that season. While the Colts began a fire sale before they fell to 2-7 this past Sunday, they reportedly told Jones earlier in the weekend that he would not be traded. 

"The Colts listened but did not want to move Jones," Schultz explained.

Why the Jets held onto Geno Smith

Before word about the Cousins trade broke, it was reported that the 2-7 Jets still wanted to give head coach Aaron Glenn "every opportunity to show he can/can't be this team's coach moving forward," which is why that club did not "want to sell away players who can help him do that." 

According to Schultz, "the Jets felt Smith was too important to the team and the development of other players." It remains to be seen whether such development can help Glenn keep his job through the upcoming offseason.