Vikings QB Kirk Cousins Gets Encouraging Injury Update, Primed to Sign Big Deal
The health of quarterback Kirk Cousins is improving earlier than anticipated, which is encouraging for a significant new contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings or elsewhere.
On Friday, January 26, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network provided an update on Cousins’ healing process following his Week 8 Achilles tendon tear against the Green Bay Packers. According to Pelissero, the quarterback is ahead of plan and ought to start throwing in a few weeks.
“Cousins is believed to be the first player in NFL history to play for nine years of fully guaranteed money, dating back to the two franchise tags he signed in Washington before signing his first major contract in Minnesota in 2017,” Pelissero said. said. It was reported. Kejen will be 36 years old by next season. His torn Achilles tendon is removed. But I was told his recovery was premature. … He’s scheduled to head to the combine next month, so things are moving in the right direction for Kirk Cousins to be ready for the Vikings or whoever he ends up with in 2024.
Kirk Cousins Has Leverage to Negotiate Yet Another Massive Contract from Vikings, Other NFL Teams
Former NFL front office and current NFL Network analyst Mark Ross talked about Cousins’ strengths as he heads to the negotiating table with the Vikings and other teams in the coming weeks.
“Relatives and his agent, Mike McCartney, have mastered this game of expansion and free agency,” Ross said. “We know Kirk has been dealing with an Achilles injury all year, and his importance was even more evident in the style of pass rusher Minnesota had when he left. So despite being traumatized, Kirk proved that he knows how to make money. He has proven around the league that he can create yards and be productive. [Backstage] With several teams without their best players, it looks like Kirk is ready to make some money again.
Cousins has signed three contracts with Minnesota since joining the team six years ago. During that time, he earned $185 million from the Vikings. Spotrac estimates Cousins’ market value at more than $118 million under the new three-year deal.
Parting Ways With QB Kirk Cousins Will Cost Vikings Significant Cap Space in 2024
If the Vikings decide not to sign Cousins due to age, price or recent injury history, that decision will come at a significant cost.
Minnesota will need to draft a QB in April. The team could acquire and sacrifice important assets in the process and must sign another high-profile free agent veteran who doesn’t have the same experience or chemistry as Cousins. Bet on Jaren Hall or Nick Mullens as 2024 locker or starters.
Barring that scenario, the cost to the Vikings would be $28.5 million, with Cousins’ contract expiring in March. So it makes sense to sign the QB to a new, even expensive, deal. Ultimately, Minnesota will have to add that money to the salary cap at some point in the future, but signing Cousins is the best way for the team to be competitive in the short term.
“Signing Cousins could jeopardize the future of franchise-defining flexibility,” Alec Lewis of The Athletic wrote on Thursday, Jan. 25. “If you take a different path, you might end up with years of inconsistency and feel like you have to get over the hump like Kirk Cousins did.”
