NFL Trade Rumors: Cowboys' Trey Lance Linked to Vikings as Kirk Cousins Replacement

If the Minnesota Vikings don't bring back Kirk Cousins for the 2024 season, one potential solution for them at quarterback is Trey Lance.

On The Rich Eisen Show (starts at 2:00 mark), host Rich Eisen said one of the rumors he was hearing during the NFL Scouting Combine involved the Vikings potentially trading a middle-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for Lance as a "possible solve" at quarterback.

There is growing speculation that Cousins' tenure with the Vikings will end when free agency begins next Wednesday.

ESPN's Dan Graziano reported on Sunday the Atlanta Falcons have made signing Cousins their top priority as they pursue a new starting quarterback.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was asked about Cousins' status at the combine during an appearance on NFL Network:

"I know Kirk is going to go through a full process. He's a process guy. Hopefully we continue to be a strong part in that process and we figure out a way to keep him a Minnesota Viking. My expectation is that we aren't going to be the only ones that want Kirk Cousins to be the quarterback of our team in 2024."

While a lot of coaches would give a generic answer that said nothing, O'Connell at least seemed to acknowledge the possibility Cousins wouldn't be back.

If the Vikings have to find a new starter under center, they are in a difficult spot in the draft. They own the 11th pick in the first round. There are some people in the league who are predicting the first four selections will all be quarterbacks.

It's certainly plausible Minnesota could look to make a move up in the draft if the chance to take a quarterback is available, but it would likely require the team to give up significant assets to jump into the top five.

Lance spent the 2023 season as the Cowboys' third-string quarterback after being acquired late in the preseason in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. He has only appeared in eight games over the past three seasons after being selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft by the 49ers.

The 23-year-old Lance is from Minnesota and played high school football at Marshall Senior before going to North Dakota State. He led the Bison to an FCS national title as their starting quarterback in 2019.

Cousins has spent the past eight seasons with the Vikings. He was limited to eight games in 2023 after suffering a torn Achilles in the fourth quarter of a 24-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 29.