Vikings Buzz: AFC Team Interested in Hunter; Cousins Back in 2024?

Let's go over a pair of recent reports involving key Vikings players who are set to hit free agent after the season.

Jaguars interested in Hunter?

The Jacksonville Jaguars have interest in trading for Vikings edge rusher Danielle Hunter, according to Darren Wolfson on SKOR North's Mackey & Judd.

"I know this: Jacksonville has all sorts of interest in Danielle Hunter," Wolfson said. "What are they willing to offer? Can you complete that trade?"

It makes sense, on paper. Hunter is having another great season, with six sacks in five games. He's on an expiring contract and is the Vikings' top non-Kirk Cousins asset who could bring back a real return in a trade. If the Vikings do enter sell mode, looking to move Hunter feels like a no-brainer. From the Jaguars' perspective, they need some pass-rush help to bolster their chances in the loaded AFC.

One issue with the Jacksonville idea is that their second, third, and fourth-round picks in next year's draft are all "locked" until the conditions of the Calvin Ridley trade play out this season. The Vikings landing their first-rounder next year feels unlikely. If a deal were to happen before the deadline, it would probably have to involve valuable 2025 picks.

Other players the Vikings could consider moving include Harrison Smith, K.J. Osborn, Jordan Hicks, and Ezra Cleveland.

Cousins back in 2024?

It feels like the writing is on the wall in terms of this being Cousins' last season with the Vikings. A 35-year-old impending free agent, he costs a lot of money and has only been able to win one playoff game in six seasons (not that he deserves all the blame for the team's shortcomings, by any means). The logical move for the Vikings seems to be drafting a quarterback next year, even if they have to trade up to do it.

But that's not a lock. It's not out of the question that the Vikings would bring Cousins back next season, particularly if they find a way to turn around their 1-4 start.

"I think the Vikings want him back," FOX Sports insider Jay Glazer said this week. "At least in camp, they did."

I'd take this with a grain of salt. It's possible Glazer talked to Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell at training camp and came away with the sense that the Vikings would love to have Cousins back beyond this season, but that doesn't mean that's actually their plan. That was also before the team got off to a 1-4 start and then lost Justin Jefferson to a hamstring injury for a while.

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