Image courtesy of Vikings.com
Kirk Cousins may be a Viking beyond 2020.
During a recent recording of his SKOR North podcast called “The Scoop,” KSTP reporter Darren Wolfson spoke with Joel Corry, a former NFL agent and current salary cap contributor for CBS Sports, about different ways the Vikings can open up cap space this offseason.
“There is one place where you can get significant cap room we haven’t even touched on — Cousins,” said Corry. “He’s got a $29.5M base salary, $31M cap number, and basically if you don’t [extend] him this year, he can hit the open market.”
The Vikings, who have 16 unrestricted free agents and are currently projected to be $5-to-$10 million over the salary cap when free agency begins, don’t have many options when it comes to Cousins’ deal.
“Can’t put a transition tag on him, third franchise tag is too cost prohibitive, it’s like $45 million. Basically, if you want Cousins on a go-forward basis, you have to do something,” Corry explained. “You could pick up significant cap room by converting some of that $29.5M base salary into a signing bonus, sign an extension and prorate it… I’m curious to see if the [Vikings] approach his agent.”
“I think [Rick] Spielman and [Mike] Zimmer are married to Kirk Cousins,” replied Wolfson. “I think they do approach the agent, Mike McCartney, probably as soon as the Combine in late February in Indianapolis and just see where things stand.”
Wolfson then pondered what an extension would look like in terms of dollars and structure. Corry said Cousins’ agent will clearly be seeking a raise.
Corry, speaking from an agent’s viewpoint: “If you offer me something that doesn’t suggest a current deal for the cap going up since we did the [first] deal, I’m not interested. That would put you at an average of $31.5M. The question is, are they going to want to do another short-term deal… Or are they willing to extend it out a little bit longer and plant some roots.”
The former NFL agent thinks a new contract for Cousins will not be structured like his previous fully-guaranteed deal.
“I don’t think you can structure the deal the way you did [last] time,” said Corry. “Small signing bonus, big base salaries. I think you’re going to have to go the more conventional route with a big signing bonus. And then, do you give him a big enough signing bonus where he can hang his hat on ‘I’ve got the biggest signing bonus in history’ — right now it’s Russell Wilson at $65M — and if you can get [Cousins] to do four new years, prorate that out, give him a next-to-nothing base salary, you can pick up like $10 million in cap room right there.”
“Not to say that they’ll absolutely hammer out an extension,” Wolfson replied, “but I’m positive the Vikings are going to approach McCartney and try to work something out.”
“It makes sense,” Corry said. “He holds all the cards from the standpoint of, if you don’t extend him and he does what he did this year in the regular season and you win another playoff game, he’s going to be valuable to a lot of people.”
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So you think we should except a QB that goes into fetal position if pocket starts to collapse. Instead of drafting a younger QB to give us a mobile person behind the line. Cause if they draft younger personal for defense to help secondary then why not get younger QB for franchise. Just don't see Cousins as a good long term deal.
Cousins is a chicken quarterback. He rather hide with the ball and go down than try to run or scramble with the ball. Vikings, do yourself and the fans a favor and get a new Qback!!!!!!
Gotta get a deal done soon. Draft a guy in the mid rounds this year, see how he looks in camp and draft another one the following year if you don't think he has what it takes to take over for Kirk when his contract is up. We need a proper developed QB.
Kirk C has no leadership skills. No mobility, no It factor! If this organization wants to continue down road of no foreseeable championship so be it! This franchise has never won, so ownership has to change that. Start with a strong front office and move forward from there! Other organizations have done it. However, the Wilfs need to be more hands on instead of just writing checks.
Bridgewater. Bridgewater. Bridgewater. Or Kyle Sloter
BACK IN 2009 THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS WENT AFTER BRETT FAVRE
AS HIS CAREER WAS COMING TO AN END HE ALMOST GUIDED MINNESOTA TO A SUPERBOWL THEY RAN INTO THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS THAT YEAR WHO WAS PLAYING DIRTY FOOTBALL I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD GO AFTER TOM BRADY WHO HAS 6 SUPERBOWL RINGS BECAUSE IT ALL ABOUT WINNING NOW AND NOT IN THE FUTURE AND THEY SHOULD DO ALL VIKINGS FANS A FAVOR AND CUT KIRK COUSIN BECAUSE IF HE IS MARRY TO MIKE ZIMMER THEN IF THE OWNER WANTS TO WIN RIGHT NOW HE SHOULD BRING IN A NEW FRONT OFFICE IF JERRY JONES HAS THE TYPE OF TALENT THAT THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS HAS HE WOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACE THE FRONT OFFICE NOW WAS LOST IN ALL OF THIS IS YOU ALL NEED TO REALIZE THAT THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS THEY MADE IT TO THE PLAYOFF IN 2019 BY BEATING 10 TEAMS WHO HAD LOSING RECORDS AND IF THEY HAD TOM BRADY HE WOULD HAVE WON SOME ARE ALL OF THOSE GAMES THAT THEY LOST WITH TEAMS WITH WINNING RECORDS SO THIS IS FOR THE OWNERSHIP GO AFTER TOM BRADY AND CUT KIRK COUSIN IF TOM BRADY HAS ABOUT 3 MORE GOOD YEARS LEFT IN HIM WELL THAT 3 SUPERBOWL WIN AND ALSO IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT YOUR FRANCHISE HAS NOT WON A SUPERBOWL
They cant go after Brady, They owe Cousins 30 Million this year Guaranteed. Brady already said he is embarrassed by all the QBs making more money than him and will no longer take a team discount. The Vikings could not pay 2 QBs 30+ Million, so Brady is not a possibility!
Dude. You're lucky you have a QB that can play at Cousins level. Is he perfect, no, but he's just entering his prime and gets better every season and is certainly in the top 10% of QB's in the league. There will be plenty of teams ready to take him if he is dropped by Minnesota.
Issue is with the Vikings is that the pocket "starts to collapse" every play. Your offensive line is the WORST in the NFL in pass protection. They give up plays way faster than any mobile QB could get out of the way, so a running QB isn't going to save you. I've seen them give up sacks consistently to a 3-man pass rush. It's embarrassing and I'm not even a primary fan of the team.
Fix the offensive line, sign Cousins long term to free up some space and at the absolute least you know you are capable of making deep playoff runs. The only advantage drafting a QB will have is you don't have to pay him as much. But whoever is drafted isn't going to come close to Cousins level
If Cousins was ALL THAT, why'd the REDSKINS LET HIM GO?????!!!!!
The Vikings should let Cousins play out his contract. Draft Anthony Gordan QB let him lratn behind Kirk for a year then Start him in 2021.