Speculation is growing that the Arizona Cardinals will take quarterback Kyler Murray with the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.
This is awkward for some — mostly Josh Rosen — because the Cardinals drafted Rosen with last year’s 10th overall pick.
So, if the Cardinals do take Murray and Rosen is on the trade block, should the Vikings be interested in a trade for Rosen?
Why it makes sense
The Vikings have Kirk Cousins under contract for two more seasons with $58 million guaranteed. It’s unlikely Rosen becomes better than Cousins over the next two seasons. In his rookie season, it was clear Rosen needs some time to develop. He threw for 162 yards per game while completing just 55 percent of his passes.
But when Cousins’ current contract expires, Rosen will be just 24 years old after two years of development – young enough to be a quarterback for a decade. Think the Brett Favre-Aaron Rodgers experiment in Green Bay, except way worse.
If Minnesota wants to get a future quarterback for relatively cheap, this could be an option.
Why it won’t happen
The Vikings are ready to win now, and Rosen isn’t a player who would help them do that. So giving up a third-round pick might be better for this team down the road, but general manager Rick Spielman isn’t worried about that right now.
If the Vikings were to acquire Rosen, he wouldn’t be a starter (assuming Cousins stays healthy) until 2021.
That would be the last year of Rosen’s rookie contract, so the Vikings would have little time to decide on picking up his fifth-year option.
It’s a move that makes more sense on “Madden” than in the real NFL.
If a team can acquire Rosen for a third-round pick after he was a first-round pick just a year ago, that team could be getting a steal.
It’s just not going to be the Vikings.
