A mistake would occur if Kirk Cousins waived his no-trade clause in favor of the Minnesota Vikings.

Kirk Cousins’ tenure with the Minnesota Vikings at the end of 2023 is most likely to continue.

Just before the Vikings’ Week 6 matchup with the Chicago Bears, ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that Cousins most likely would not waive his no-trade clause and would play out the remainder of his contract in Minnesota.

According to league sources who spoke with ESPN, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to stay in Minnesota for the duration of the season and will not seek to waive the no-trade clause in his contract.

And while Cousins undoubtedly has his reasons, one of which is probably that his family lives nearby, it would be a mistake to discount the possibility that Cousins will play for another team in 2023 from a professional standpoint.

Although Schefter leaves the door open for Cousins to play for a “contending team with a familiar offense,” one would assume that would mean a front-runner who would be willing to waive the 35-year-old quarterback’s no-trade clause.

There are only a few teams that stand out as potential contenders who will be searching for a quarterback at the trade deadline: the New York Jets.

Since Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1, no team has been more closely associated with Cousins than the Jets.
And with good reason—given the obvious connection between the two sides.

The Vikings are 1-4 going into Week 6.
To make matters worse, Justin Jefferson, the team’s star wide receiver, will be sidelined for the next four to six weeks with a hamstring injury.
The fact that Jefferson led the NFL in targets in 2022 and is currently ranked fourth in the league for 2023 gives you an idea of how serious this injury is.

Stated differently, Cousins will be shorthanded in crucial games against teams like the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, and Atlanta Falcons when the league’s top wide receiver is suspended.

All three of those teams are potential playoff opponents, and the Vikings would face off against them for the final NFC Wild Card spot.
The Vikings trailed all but three NFC teams going into Week 6.
In 2023, Minnesota is unlikely to make the playoffs, as things stand right now.

But the Jets, who have a defense that can carry a team to the postseason, are missing a franchise quarterback, and they are in severe need of one player.
The Jets want to compete for a Super Bowl this season, not lose one year of competition because of Aaron Rodgers’ injury.
Cousins might be that missing piece.

The Jets, as a wild card team with competent quarterback play, can easily make it into the playoffs in a weaker AFC conference where the top teams have obvious weaknesses.

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins continues to play among the best in the NFL, even though the team has struggled to close out games this season.
In 2022, Minnesota won all 11 one-score games, an NFL record.
Ranking first in passing yards, second in completions, and first in passing touchdowns, the seasoned quarterback leads the league.
Put another way, the four-time Pro Bowl player is headed for his finest campaign to date.

The quarterback’s one unmet need, though, is postseason success.
In addition, the quarterback, who turns 36 the following season, is running out of time to win a Super Bowl.

In Minnesota, neither this season nor anytime soon will that goal be accomplished.

Even though Cousins will undoubtedly be able to exercise his free agency in March, the prospect of playing for the Jets, who have the No. Together with gifted players like Dalvin Cook and Garrett Wilson, the No. 4 defensive unit in the league from the previous season is a recipe for possible big success.

With no true No. 2, the Kansas City Chiefs are as bad as they’ve been since Patrick Mahomes took over. 1 wide receiver because their formidable defense has helped them win games.
Despite their recent dominance, the Miami Dolphins’ inability to overcome the Buffalo Bills is still a weakness.
With Wilson at quarterback, the Jets have already defeated the Buffalo Bills.

With a team like the Jets, this season is when Cousins should have the best chance to win a Super Bowl.

Cousins will soon come to regret missing out on a chance at a ring for one more disappointing season with the Vikings.