Amid Offseason Drama, Kirk Cousins Never Wavered on His Intentions.
From the moment Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer left the Minnesota Vikings in January, fans and media speculated Kirk Cousins’ future with the franchise, but he never wavered on his intentions.
On March 13th, Cousins signed on with the Vikings for one more year at a $35 million guaranteed price tag, keeping the passer with the team through the end of the 2023 season.
When the 2021 regular season ended, Cousins explained his willingness to stay in Minnesota, affirming his position was a “good starting point” for contractual renegotiation.
Some football personalities believe in the efficacy of “quarterback wins” as a valid statistic, and Cousins’ individual record — in a 53-mean team sport — is precisely average, 59-59-2 (.500).
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With that percentage, Cousins is not unconditionally loved by fans, plagued by the reputation of mediocrity. Therefore, with the influx of a new general manager and head coach, folks believed Cousins’ departure was imminent.
It wasn’t.
Instead, the brains and eyes evaluated the QB1 spot on the Vikings roster and re-upped with Cousins, ensuring the 2022 brand of Vikings possesses a puncher’s chance to reach the Super Bowl. A rebuild was not on the menu.
Left up to Cousins — all along — leaving Minnesota was never on his radar. He explained his mentality to The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday.
At the time of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s roster analysis, Cousins did not hold a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he could be sent packing anywhere. Per his wishes, though, Cousins had no plans of ever venturing elsewhere, at least not this offseason.
Adofo-Mensah hired Kevin O’Connell — days after his Super Bowl victory — capping a season when Sean McVay led Matthew Stafford and 52 other players to the Promised Land. Retaining Cousins for two more hurrahs implies O’Connell’s commitment to replicating the Stafford voodoo with Cousins. Otherwise, the roster would’ve been torn down for a total facelift.
Cousins could easily be disgruntled in Minnesota, but he is not. By trade, he is a pocket passer whose weakness is pocket presence. For four straight campaigns, the Vikings failed to support Cousins with a competent pass-protecting line. Yet, ever the jovial, happy-go-lucky type of person, Cousins never lamented the bottom-barrel offensive line in front of him.
Perhaps O’Connell and his staff can finally keep Cousins upright, fully unlocking the pocket passer’s skillset while not constantly under siege.
That must be the vision because Cousins never voiced a longing to trek elsewhere.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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