Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season has arrived, and with it, no shortage of NFL rumors on Sunday morning as we wait for the first 1 p.m. slate of games to kick off for the year.
Here's the latest on various rumors reported Sunday morning, all having to do with quarterbacks around the league.
Kirk Cousins can force free agency which should help him secure more guaranteed money
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins will go down as one of the most well-paid QBs of the 20-teens and 2020s relative to his performance. Cousins is steady, if not a quality quarterback, but his massively guaranteed earnings have at times looked disproportionate relative to the quarterback market.
Eventually, a long-term deal he signed with the Vikings was caught up to by the market and didn't look so bad after some time had passed. But his three-year, $84 million guaranteed with the Vikings was looked at as an exorbitant spend for a short while. He followed that up with a 2-year, $66 million guaranteed contract.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the way Cousins' current contract is set up positions him for another go at free agency, just when plenty of teams should be pining for the services of someone like Cousins.
Schefter reminds us that the Vikings added four voidable years to the end of Cousins current deal, but reported that the contract stipulates the contract doesn't void until March 13, which is after the franchise tag deadline.
Therefore, Cousins could enter free agency in the offseason next year and greatly shake up the market. If he joins the market, he would be the best quarterback currently expected to be available, with Ryan Tannehill coming in at a distant second.
That means likely money incoming for one of the most handsomely-paid players of this era. It's all been about right place, right time for Cousins' paychecks, and that theme could very well continue.
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Matthew Stafford was the backup plan for Jets if Aaron Rodgers failed
The New York Jets are no doubt excited about what this season holds in store for them. After adding Aaron Rodgers and Dalvin Cook this offseason, there's a newfound excitement in MetLife. New York hasn't made the postseason since 2010, but anything less than an AFC Championship visit will be viewed as a disappointment in 2023.
Though the Jets have their guy now, other quarterbacks were considered this offseason before Rodgers. Among them was Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, thought to be possibly available in a trade.
On Sunday morning, Ian Rapoport reported the Jets called Los Angeles to inquire about Stafford in a possible trade while the Rodgers trade looked to be in question.
Fans will recall that for a brief moment, despite Rodgers' public proclamation that he wanted to play for New York, a deal was in question because the terms still needed to be agreed upon between the two sides. Trading for a superstar quarterback is certainly complex.
This was after Rodgers' fate as a Jet was first in question due to whether or not Rodgers would ultimately decide on a retirement. It was Jets or hang it up, briefly.
The calls were short, though. Here's what Rapoport said:
"As two sources explained, the Rams were adamant Stafford wasn't going anywhere. The talks between the two teams were more exploratory than anything else with L.A. showing no willingness to do a deal, but the Jets didn't want to leave a stone unturned in their quest for a franchise QB."
Stafford's availability in a trade is something to watch this year. If the Rams struggle but Stafford proves to be a still-viable quarterback, teams could look to acquire him. Whether or not the Rams change their stance on his availability remains to be seen.
Aaron Rodgers seems to be invigorated on career length in New York
Aaron Rodgers indicated that at certain points this offseason, retirement was very much in view as the leading option for his life's next steps. Of course, we know that following his infamous darkness retreat, Rodgers opted to keep playing, so long as the Green Bay Packers could finalize a trade sending him to the New York Jets.
Now, he's following in Brett Favre's footsteps as a Packer-turned-Jet and trying to bring more fortune to New York than Favre was able to.
Based on how seemingly in-play retirement was, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see Rodgers hang it up after this year, right?
Maybe not so fast. His change of scenery seems to be clearly invigorating. Asked if he could play until 45 (notably, Tom Brady's retirement age), here's what Rodgers said to the New York Post:
"I think if you would've asked me five, six years ago I would have said probably not. But with the change that's happened and some of the changes off the field I've made, I definitely see that now as a possibility where before I just didn't think I'd want to, honestly."
Rodgers' current deal takes him through this season and the two following.
