Explosive; Vikings Make Final Call on Fully-Guaranteed Deal for Kirk Cousins
The Minnesota Vikings want to keep Kirk Cousins, but they don’t want to do so at any cost. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported on Monday, February 19 that the team has not yet made a final decision on Cousins’ permanent return, but has already drawn the line on certain financial terms if the quarterback decides to move.
Minnesota management, now in his third season, really likes Cousins, but it was also clear they were not going to give Cousins a fully guaranteed deal after terminating his contract twice like the previous administration did,” Breer wrote. . “Without him, Cousins is now in a position to hit the market like he did six years ago, only this time he’s older and has had more injuries.”
Vikings Prime Candidate Traded in NFL Draft for QB Like UNC’s Drake Maye.
Guaranteed money could be an obstacle that forces Cousins to leave. Because a team hungry for at least one QB of all the guys in the league is desperate enough to pay for it. The fact that Minnesota doesn’t think so means the franchise has a confident backup plan.
The Vikings hold the 11th pick in the upcoming NFL draft, which is too low a ranking to land one of three superstar quarterback prospects. On February 10, ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggested Minnesota as one of two teams willing to trade to the New England Patriots for the third spot, possibly to play for the remaining QB between Jaden Daniels and Drake Maye.
“The Patriots also need a quarterback, but there are those around the league who believe they would be willing to trade the No. 3 overall pick,” Graziano wrote. “The two teams I want to keep an eye on are the [Atlanta] Falcons… and the Vikings.”
Another route for the Vikings would be to trade down and then select a desired QB with more value later in the first round or in the second. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis suggested a third route on February 13, where the Vikings could use a second-round pick (42nd overall) and several later round picks over the next two years to trade to the Baltimore Ravens at 30th.
Lewis proposed the move as a play for Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, who will be entering his rookie season at age 24. He was a 2023 Heisman Trophy finalist and is the type of mature player who is theoretically ready to start Week 1 of his first NFL campaign. Minnesota’s position on Cousins makes perfect sense in a vacuum.
The QB is set to play next season at age 36 and is recovering from the most devastating injury of his NFL career, a torn Achilles tendon suffered in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers. But the Vikings have something to think about. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is ready for a new deal that could potentially reset the market. However, this agreement was never concluded. Jefferson can play next season with the Vikings on the team’s fifth-year option before he becomes a free agent in March 2025.
Minnesota will almost certainly use the franchise tag to retain Jefferson after a year, which would likely ease the front office’s concerns about upsetting and ultimately losing one of the best players in football. But pushing him away can be just as big of a problem. Ultimately, even if it takes 2-3 seasons, Jefferson can then advance to unrestricted free agency and reset the market.
Jefferson turns 25 in June. If Minnesota plays its cards right, the franchise could keep him for the rest of his career. If the Vikings make the wrong play, the wide receiver could be gone by the time he turns 20. Jefferson said last week that he wanted to get his quarterback situation in order before committing to Minnesota long-term.
That doesn’t necessarily mean they need Cousins back to go all-in with the Vikings, but it does mean they need some confidence in their position. At this point, there’s no guarantee what the front office can offer Jefferson, and that’s a major concern.
