With a switch from veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to rookie Fernando Mendoza seemingly inevitable, the question becomes whether the Raiders will explore trading Cousins to a quarterback-needy contender.
At the top of the list, obviously, would be the Vikings, where Cousins played from 2018 through 2023.
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The Raiders have pushed the implausible idea that they “had not received any trade inquiries” regarding Cousins entering this weekend. This time of year, the inquiries are rampant. Everyone is poking and prodding in an effort to see who’s available and what it would take to get them.
It would be malpractice not to make the call. For all anyone knows, the Raiders wouldn’t want much for him. There’s only one way to find out.
The Raiders also are putting out the word that they aren’t interested in trading him. Beyond the fact that there’s no reason to have interest if no one has called, it feels like an effort by the Raiders to operate from a position of strength.
Surely, there’s an offer for Cousins that they wouldn’t reject. By acting coy about possibly trading Cousins, the Raiders’ obvious goal is to make it known that it won’t be cheap.
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If they’ll be pivoting to Mendoza in any event, why not trade Cousins? They have Aidan O’Connell, who has 17 career starts, to serve as the understudy to Mendoza.
That doesn’t mean anyone will make the Raiders an offer they’d accept. But it would be lunacy for a team like the Vikings, who have a Super Bowl-ready defense, to not at least inquire.
Chances are they already have. And, if they haven’t, chances are they will before Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET. Especially after getting thumped on Sunday in their return to the Bay Area.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
