Yet Another Hint Suggests Kirk Cousins Will Be Back with Vikings
If there was a scorecard tallying the “will he stay or will he go” possibilities of Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, the document would be quite lopsided right now.
Last week, it was Adam Schefter from ESPN opining on Cousins’ future:
“Here’s the thing you have to keep in mind: They’re going to be bringing in (head coach) Kevin O’Connell. Kevin O’Connell worked with Kirk Cousins in Washington. Kirk Cousins endorsed Kevin O’Connell for that job. One of the reasons Kevin kind of wants that (Minnesota) job is because of Kirk Cousins. There’s a relationship.
– Adam Schefter | ESPN
Cousins detractors balked, claiming “nobody knows nothin'” and that the situation is still fluid. The almighty wildcard for the trade-Cousins or extend-Cousins hubbub is new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. He is fresh eyes to Cousins-in-Minnesota, a necessary arbiter as former general manager Rick Spielman would’ve likely retained Cousins — because he brought the man aboard in the first place. Those lukewarm on Cousins — and those who flat-out don’t care for him — wanted a nonbiased voice in the room to decide on Cousins’ future.
The voice is Adofo-Mensah’s.
On Super Bowl weekend, another clue hinted Cousins will remain as QB1 for the Vikings. That’s Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, and he explained:
“All indications at this point are Cousins is going to be the #Vikings quarterback in 2022. He worked with O’Connell in Washington, Cousins thinks that O’Connell is a brilliant football mind. They are going to have to address Cousins’ contract, though.”
– Tom Pelissero | NFL Network
Cousins sticking around in 2021 checks out, to an extent, as his numbers last season nominated him as the NFL’s ninth-best passer per an average of all quarterback metrics:
While ninth-best isn’t congruent with Cousins’ behemoth $45 million cap hit in 2022, no reasonable person believes he’ll play under a $45 million banner. If Adofo-Mensah wants to resume the Cousins experiment in Minneapolis, the new contract will likely average around $33-$35 million per season, which is what the ninth-best quarterback in the league should earn.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”928532″ player=”26279″ title=”4%20ideal%20offseason%20Kirk%20Cousins%20trade%20destinations” duration=”81″ description=”It’s time for the Minnesota Vikings to start making plans for the future, one that includes a 2022 offseason with a Kirk Cousins trade and an organizational reset after another disappointing season.Cousins will enter 2022 in a contract year, a position he and the Vikings are very familiar with. While the 33-year-old quarterback is playing at a high level, it’s evident he and the Vikings aren’t close to competing for the NFC North title or a Super Bowl.With that in mind, we examine the best Kirk Cousins trades that would benefit both the star quarterback and his teams.” uploaddate=”2021-12-22″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/snapshot/928494_s_1640136316410.jpg” contentUrl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/streaming/928494/928494.m3u8″]
Moreover, Top 10 or 12 quarterbacks are not available in free agency, so replacing Cousins with someone more talented is a daunting task. The Vikings would either have to trade for a Watson, Wilson, or Murray — or take a flyer in the 2022 NFL Draft on a young quarterback. Plus, the rookie pool in 2022 is notoriously not touted for quarterback talent. Teams that select hopeful franchise quarterbacks in the 1st Round will be “stretching” to make it work, according to various draft analysts.
Overall, Cousins could still be traded, but the writing on the wall indicates the Michigan State alumnus will return to the Vikings in 2022, presumably with more competent offensive trenches to protect the pocket passer.
Either that — or it’s the Spielman plan all over again.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. 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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