Derek Carr a Better Bet than Kirk Cousins for 2022, per Bleacher Report

Derek Carr a Better Bet than Kirk Cousins for 2022, per Bleacher Report
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

The 2022 NFL season gets underway in 15 days, so it’s “that time of year” for various sets of power rankings. And according to Bleacher Report, Derek Carr is a better bet than Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins in 2022, per its quarterback power rankings.

Power rankings — of any kind — haven’t been kind to the Vikings lately. ESPN released its NFL team power rankings on Tuesday, and Minnesota clocked in at #23 — or 10th-worst in the business.

Similarly, Cousins was shunned a bit by Bleacher Report as the sports media website placed Las Vegas Raiders QB Derek Carr three spots ahead of him. The phenomenon — Cousins disrespect — is certainly not new, but sheer statistics tell a different story regarding Carr vs. Cousins.

Foremost, though, these are the NFL’s Top 15 quarterbacks, according to Bleacher Report:

  1. Patrick Mahomes (KC)
  2. Tom Brady (TB)
  3. Josh Allen (BUF)
  4. Aaron Rodgers (GB)
  5. Joe Burrow (CIN)
  6. Justin Herbert (LAC)
  7. Matthew Stafford (LAR)
  8. Lamar Jackson (BAL)
  9. Deshaun Watson (CLE)
  10. Russell Wilson (DEN)
  11. Derek Carr (LV)
  12. Dak Prescott (DAL)
  13. Kyler Murray (ARI)
  14. Kirk Cousins (MIN)
  15. Matt Ryan (IND)
Kirk Cousins Pegged in QB Tier below Derek Carr
Kirk Cousins and Derek Carr

The list is reasonable, for the most part, but Carr’s supremacy over Cousins stands out. While the two can be considered “interchangeable,” especially according to reputation, Cousins has tabulated vastly better numbers than Carr in the last four years.

Derek Carr v. Kirk Cousins,
Since 2018:

Carr —
65 Starts
17,010 Passing Yards
96 TDs
41 INTs

Cousins —
63 Starts
16,387 Passing Yards
128 TDs
36 INTs

Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports.

Put simply, Carr has thrown 32 fewer touchdowns but five more interceptions inside the last four seasons. And this begs the question of Bleacher Report — what gives?

Perhaps it’s the shine of Carr conjoining with Davante Adams, his buddy, in Las Vegas. The Green Bay Packers traded Adams to the Raiders in March, marking the adventure of the best wide receiver in football to another conference at age 29. For at least a few seasons, Adams should thrive with Carr in the saddle.

Still, Cousins’ weaponry in 2022 is no slouch. Equipped with an offense-first head coach for the first time as a Viking, Cousins will distribute the pigskin to Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, K.J. Osborn, and Irv Smith — arguably a better stable than Adams, Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow, Josh Jacobs, and Mack Hollins.

On the two teams’ arsenals, we shall see on the superiority. But for the last four years, Cousins has been a statistically better quarterback than Carr, unless one whimsically disregards math.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. 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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