Rumors swirl at the NFL Scouting Combine, not just among media circles. Representatives of NFL teams discuss the whispers they hear around the league. The Combine is often where potential deals get discussed, whether anything comes from them or not.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk heard that one topic of discussion involved a potential new quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. It's a name that The Faithful has heard before and, for many, hoped they would not hear again.
"Apparently, at the scouting combine, there was some chatter, there was some noise among people within the broader league structure, not media, but people in the league, about Cousins being traded to the 49ers," Florio recently said on Pro Football Talk Live (h/t to FanNation for the find). "That was a hot topic at one point in Indianapolis."
The 49ers have uncertainty at quarterback. Brock Purdy would be the frontrunner to start Week 1 if he weren't recovering from the March 10 surgery to repair the tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. The quarterback's recovery will likely take him into September, perhaps beyond.
That leaves an inexperienced Trey Lance and veteran addition Sam Darnold to fight it out over the offseason to earn that Week 1 starting job, should Purdy not be ready. So it's easy to understand why the 49ers might look at all possibilities, even Cousins, especially if they learn that Purdy might be sidelined longer than hoped.
Florio suggests that a trade for Cousins would likely mean Lance heading to the Minnesota Vikings.
"And at this point, Cousins has redone his deal," Florio said. "It's a $38 million cap charge. But you know what? If you're going to swap out Kirk Cousins, you bring in a guy who's under a low-cost contract, like a Trey Lance. Trey Lance, North Dakota State, close to home, gets a chance to resurrect his career."
The 49ers made Lance the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2021. He has since started only four games, ending this past season prematurely after suffering an ankle injury.
"And I feel bad for Trey Lance," Florio notes. "Tough situation. He had no say, no power, honor and a privilege to be thrust into a situation where you have the high expectations of being the third overall pick, heightened by playing for a great team, heightened by everything they gave up to get in position to get you. You're the guy they gave up three ones and a three to get, and all you can go is down. He needs a fresh start."