NFL Rumblings: Could former Bison QB Trey Lance be solution for Vikings if Cousins leaves?

Eisen said on his "Rich Eisen Show" on Monday, March 4, that Lance, from Marshall, Minnesota, to the Vikings was one of the five juiciest rumors from the recently completed NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“I heard this rumor, that a possible solve at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, is a native of the state, and his name is Trey Lance," Eisen said.

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, the team's starter for the past six seasons, is a free agent and coming off an Achilles injury that cut last season short. The 35-year-old Cousins played eight games for the Vikings this past season. He completed 70% of his passes for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns with five interceptions before the injury. The Vikings posted a 4-4 record in those games.

The Atlanta Falcons are reportedly one of the most likely landing spots for Cousins if he doesn't return to the Vikings.

The 23-year-old Lance spent his first two full seasons with the San Francisco 49ers before he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys last season for a fourth-round draft pick.

“I am just wondering if the Vikings flip them a 3 (third-round pick), a Friday night pick, do they go ahead and do that?” Eisen said. “That might be an answer.”

The 6-foot-4, 226-pound Lance didn't appear in a game for the Cowboys last season and played in eight games with four starts in his two seasons in San Francisco. The 49ers selected Lance at No. 3 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Former NFL executive Mike Lombardi said on ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show" that he thinks Minnesota is going to be in it for Cousins unless somebody "blows it out of the water" with a big offer.

Lombardi added recently released Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is a potential option if Cousins goes elsewhere.

"But where does Minnesota go if they don't sign him back?" Lombardi said. "I think they've got to look at somebody like Russell to buy time until they get the next quarterback."

The 35-year-old Wilson started 15 games for the Broncos last season. He completed 66% of his passes for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns with eight interceptions. Denver was 7-8 with Wilson as a starter.

The Vikings could also look find a long-term solution at QB in the NFL Draft, which is April 27-29, if Cousins leaves. Minnesota has the No. 11 overall pick.

Quarterback prospects like Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, Oregon's Bo Nix and Washington's Michael Penix Jr. could potentially be in play for the Vikings around that 11th selection of the first round.

USC's Caleb Williams, LSU's Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's Drake Maye are all expected to be selected in the top five.

ESPN's Jordan Reid, an NFL Draft analyst, has the Vikings selecting the 6-foot-3, 219-pound McCarthy at No. 11 in his two-round mock draft, which posted Tuesday, March 5.

"We obviously don't know if free agent Kirk Cousins will return to Minnesota, but McCarthy fits (head) coach Kevin O'Connell's scheme so well," Reid wrote. "Yes, the passing sample size is limited he only hit 25 or more passing attempts in 12 of 28 career starts and his combine workout was inconsistent, but his efficiency at Michigan is noteworthy (72.3% completion rate)."

Reid also projects the Vikings selecting Michigan defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, who is 6-foot-3, 299 pounds, at No. 42 overall in the second round.

"Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has leaned on explosiveness in defensive prospects since taking over as Minnesota's GM," Reid wrote. "Jenkins has those traits he posted a 30-inch vertical at 299 pounds and the Vikings' defensive line could be headed for some turnover."