The Minnesota Vikings have spent the last two seasons attempting to find a long-term quarterback answer, only to settle on Kirk Cousins as their best choice both times.
The Vikings are still in the same position after an abysmal three-game skid in which they averaged only 11 points per game. Cousins is set to become a free agent in March, but he has publicly stated his desire to remain in Minnesota — and given that the 35-year-old quarterback was playing the greatest football of his career during his second season under head coach Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings should probably acquiesce.
If it is the franchise’s preference, the issue becomes one of money and time. How much should the Vikings pay Cousins on a new contract, and how long should it last? With the leverage his play and subsequent absence have provided him, the quarterback will have a large amount of say in both things.
On Wednesday, December 13, Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger ranked Cousins as the No. 2 free agent in the upcoming class, predicting the QB will earn a two-year, $60 million contract with $37.5 million guaranteed.
“An ill-timed torn Achilles derailed another strong season from Cousins, and he looked set to have a host of suitors in free agency, as he did back in 2018,” Spielberger said in his account of the situation. “Cousins still has the requisite arm strength to throw to all levels of the field and has been as accurate as ever in recent seasons.”
Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings are a wonderful match on a two-year, flexible contract.
“An ill-timed torn Achilles derailed Cousins’s second strong season, and he looked set to have a slew of suitors in free agency, as he did back in 2018,” Spielberger explained. “Cousins still has the requisite arm strength to throw to all levels of the field and has been as accurate as ever in recent seasons.”
On a two-year, flexible contract, Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings are an excellent combination.
“An ill-timed torn Achilles derailed Cousins’s second strong season, and he looked set to have a slew of suitors in free agency, as he did back in 2018,” Spielberger explained. “Cousins still has the requisite arm strength to throw to all levels of the field and has been as accurate as ever in recent seasons.”
On a two-year, flexible contract, Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings are an excellent combination.
deadline, especially after the Vikings opened the season 1-4 and then lost wide receiver Justin Jefferson to a hamstring strain for several weeks.
Cousins, on the other hand, was able to lead the offense during the first three games of the team’s subsequent improbable five-game victory streak, which had as much or more to do with Minnesota’s resurgent defense as anything else. Nonetheless, Cousins led the NFL with 18 touchdown passes through eight weeks before his injury, and he did much of his work without Jefferson’s assistance.
All of this adds to Cousins’ case for a new contract, which might result in a bigger offer than $30 million per season from another team. However, SKOR North’s Phil Mackey argued on Thursday that Cousins should return to Minnesota even if he may earn more elsewhere.
“What’s the difference between $30 million and $40 million at this point, if you’re Kirk Cousins and his family?” Play wherever you choose. “Assist your team,” Mackey added. “And if he signs a two-year, $60 million contract and the Vikings can opt out after the first year, it gives the Vikings so much flexibility that they could easily bring Danielle Hunter back at that point.”
