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Defensive end Bryce Huff has been named in a trade swap involving Kirk Cousins..

The idea of Kirk Cousins getting traded to the San Francisco 49ers isn’t a new one.

Kyle Shanahan helped turn Cousins into a household name in Washington, and there’s always been this sort of “what if” regarding whether they might reunite. Now, with Brock Purdy out and Mac Jones forced into starting quarterback duties, the 49ers are staring down the possibility that their Super Bowl window could hinge on backup quarterbacks.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report thinks a splash trade for — you guessed it, Cousins — might be beneficial for the Niners with Purdy out.

“The potential issue is that Cousins’ contract includes a no-trade clause, and there may not be many teams for which he’d waive it. The San Francisco 49ers, however, might be one of them,” Knox wrote on September 12, before sharing his idea of what a “win-win” trade might look like for both the Niners and the Falcons.

Would the San Francisco 49ers Really Trade for Kirk Cousins?

GettyShould the 49ers trade for QB Kirk Cousins amid Brock Purdy’s injury?

The Niners went out and got Jones as QB2 so they’d have a guy behind Purdy who has starting experience. But Knox thinks if Jones falters at all, San Francisco should consider trading for Cousins.

Here’s a look at the trade proposal he came up with, which also involves sending Bryce Huff to Atlanta:

• 49ers Get: QB Kirk Cousins
• Falcons Get: Edge Bryce Huff, Conditional 2026 5th-Round Pick

“This hypothetical trade would reunite Cousins with Kyle Shanahan, potentially giving the QB a prime opportunity to revitalize his NFL stock,” Knox noted. “Shanahan will turn to Mac Jones for Week 2, but if he flounders—and Purdy is trending toward the longer end of the recovery estimate—Cousins could be just the QB to step in and salvage San Francisco’s season.”

Knox seems to think — erroneously or not — that San Francisco would be willing to take on another huge QB salary in order to get the veteran signal-caller, as well.

“They could flip Huff and a fourth- or fifth-round pick—whichever ends up not going to Philly—to Atlanta for Cousins. San Francisco would get a spot-starter, while the Falcons would get cap relief, draft capital and pass-rushing depth,” Knox added.

The 2024 Season Was not Kind to Cousins

Cousins, at 37, isn’t the kind of quarterback you mortgage the future for—but he’s also not totally washed, either. In Atlanta last year, he threw for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 picks in 14 games, working back from his 2023 Achilles tear. That 2023 season was better: 18 TDs to 5 INTs in eight games, with a 103.8 passer rating before the injury.

The obvious obstacle is money. Cousins carries a 2025 cap hit of $40 million with $27.5 million guaranteed this year. Any trade means the 49ers take on his remaining salary while the Falcons eat the bonus proration. With Purdy’s $265 million deal also on the books, a trade for Cousins would make almost no sense.

Technically, San Francisco could make it work — Over the Cap has them with enough breathing room in over $26 million — but it would mean tightening a lot of belts.

Also — would Huff really be a trade chip after the 49ers traded for him this offseason? Huff has double-digit sack upside in this defense. Shipping him out months later for a short-term quarterback bandage wouldn’t make much sense.

Would Cousins raise the 49ers’ floor for 2025 with Purdy out? Absolutely. He’s steady, he’s smart and Shanahan knows how to use him. But between his hefty cap hit and the uncertainty around Purdy’s return, this trade proposal feels like a huge reach, at least from San Francisco’s perspective.

Beth Mishler-Elmore Beth Mishler-Elmore is a Heavy sports contributor based in the Midwest, focusing on the NFL, NBA and WNBA. More about Beth Mishler-Elmore

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