5 dark horse teams who could trade for Deshaun Watson

In true Minnesota Vikings fashion, they went 7-9 this season while allowing and putting up the exact same amount of yardage. With the quarterback, head coach and GM set to start contract extensions, they’ll be running it back in 2021.

Kirk Cousins played well after the Week 7 bye in 2020, which is certain to reinforce complacency on the hope key pieces defensively are back healthy next season. But if — and it’s a big “if” — the Vikings could find a trade suitor (the San Francisco 49ers?), they could move on from Cousins.

Cousins would have to be part of a deal to get Watson, if he wasn’t sent elsewhere. Before you say the Texans would never do that, even with a new GM in already and a new head coach coming, I refer you to the Hopkins trade.

Cousins was a top-10 quarterback this year, as rated by Pro Football Focus. But imagine Watson throwing to Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and Irv Smith Jr., with Dalvin Cook in the backfield. That’s a scary offense, with upside not seen in Minnesota since Brett Favre circa 2009 and peak Daunte Culpepper before that.