Arizona Cardinals: Ranking the 10 likeliest Josh Rosen trade destinations

KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 11: Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals throws a pass during the second half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 11: Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals throws a pass during the second half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 14: Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals and Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings shake hands after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals 27-17. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 14: Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals and Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings shake hands after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Cardinals 27-17. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Minnesota Vikings

Why would they make the trade? Maybe the Vikings don’t like Kirk Cousins as much as they’re paying him, or maybe they are looking for the future of the position after Cousins’ deal finishes in two seasons.

Like the Saints, the Vikings could develop Josh Rosen while they finish out the remaining two years and $58 million (all guaranteed) of Cousins’ massive contract. By the time that contract expires Rosen will be just 24 years old and will be on the final year of his affordable rookie contract with a fifth-year option for the next. For a team that is as cap-strapped as the Vikings are in the future, that lower cap hit would be extremely valuable.

Why wouldn’t they make the trade? Because, as it stands, they are broker than a college student without a job. With just $2.2 million in cap space going into the 2019 season, per Over The Cap, the Vikings can’t currently pay for their rookie class, so paying for Rosen’s contract may mean cuts would be on t

What are their trade assets looking like? In the first four rounds of the ’19 draft, the Vikings currently hold the 18th, 50th, 82nd, and 121st picks. They also have potentially tradeable players in Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, Laquon Treadwell, and Everson Griffin.