49ers under Kyle Shanahan’s new leadership reportedly tried to trade the 2nd overall pick in the 2017 Draft for Kirk Cousins but Washington never returned a phone call

Shanahan wanted to sign Cousins because they had known each other since their days in Washington.

49ers under Kyle Shanahan’s new leadership reportedly tried to trade the 2nd overall pick in the 2017 Draft for Kirk Cousins but Washington never returned a phone call

Kyle Shanahan wanted to sign Kirk Cousins (Image via IMAGO)

Kirk Cousins being the face of the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 could have been a possibility if the owners had listened to Kyle Shanahan back in 2017. A recent report claims that the ‘Quarterback’ star was close to becoming the face of the Bay Area.

Shanahan was the offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders (then Redskins) in 2012, when they drafted Cousins in the fourth round, just three rounds after Robert Griffin III. But after just three seasons and suffering a torn ACL, Griffin was traded to the Cleveland Browns.

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Two years later, in 2017, Kyle Shanahan took charge of the 49ers and wanted to bring Cousins with him. In a fascinating interview with Mike Shanahan (the father of Kyle Shanahan), the Athletic‘s Alec Lewis reveals what went on in the following years.

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“He knew Kirk knew his system,” Lewis wrote. “He knew the type of guy Kirk was. But (Washington) wouldn’t even return the phone call.”

Apparently, Shanahan wanted to trade San Francisco’s No. 2 overall pick in the draft to Washington in exchange for Cousins. Instead, Kirk Cousins played out the season under the franchise tag and, in 2018, became a free agent. Subsequently, the Minnesota Vikings signed him to a record-breaking three-year, $84 million guaranteed contract.

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Kirk Cousins hasn’t exactly been an elite quarterback for the Vikings

49ers under Kyle Shanahan’s new leadership reportedly tried to trade the 2nd overall pick in the 2017 Draft for Kirk Cousins but Washington never returned a phone call
Cousins is in the twilight of his career (Image via People Magazine)

There’s no doubt that the 35-year-old Cousins is one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. In his 11 seasons, he has received four Pro Bowl nominations and led the league in passing in 2015, and that’s about it. During that time, he only had two playoff appearances and one win. So he hasn’t exactly set Minnesota on fire.

Would signing for the 49ers have been different? It’s not impossible to think that way. As Lewis wrote, Cousins was already aware of how Kyle Shanahan runs his team and the play calls. Recently, they faced the dilemma of choosing a new signal caller and had to settle for second-year Brock Purdy.

Before the last pick of 2022, Jimmy Garoppolo had a satisfactory stint with the San Francisco franchise. He won their division twice and even reached the Super Bowl in 2019.

Whether Kirk Cousins possesses similar traits is still up in the air. But if Shanahan still desires to sign the veteran, then he will be a free agent next year unless the Vikings give him a new deal.

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