The trade deadline chatter around quarterback movement is getting louder, but the latest reporting suggests the big reunion theories are mostly smoke.
Kirk Cousins has surfaced as a name to watch after the Las Vegas Raiders’ strong start gave way to a four-game losing streak, and his reworked deal only adds to the intrigue. The contract includes a minimal base salary of $1.3 million, and with rookie first overall pick Fernando Mendoza drawing more calls to take over as the starter, Cousins has become a logical target in rumor mill conversations ahead of the November 10 deadline.
Still, the idea of Cousins being moved looks far less likely than the buzz suggests. Reports from Tom Pelissero, Adam Schefter and ESPN all point in the same direction: a trade is highly unlikely.
Pelissero noted that the 38-year-old Cousins does have trade value, especially with a $10 million guaranteed bonus set to come due in March, but Schefter reported that the Raiders intend to keep playing him for as long as possible. That tracks with what Cousins is doing on the field, too - he leads the NFL with 16 touchdown passes and is third with 1,817 passing yards even as the Raiders have stumbled.
The Daniel Jones angle appears even thinner. Pelissero shut down the idea of a Minnesota Vikings reunion with Jones, whose Indianapolis Colts are sitting at 2-5 after a fire sale that included trading Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner. Pelissero said the 6-0 Vikings are locked in on Kyler Murray and are leaning on a dominant defense and a strong running game that he compared to the historic Seattle Seahawks.
Jones, for his part, addressed the uncertainty around his future in Indianapolis. As James Boyd of The Athletic reported on X, Jones said it’s natural to think about a possible departure, but he’s staying focused on what he can control: preparing and playing football as the season goes on.
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