Justin Jefferson Makes His Case for Kirk Cousins in 2024 Quite Clear
Once upon a time — the 2020 and 2021 seasons, for example — various forms of NFL-themed media tried to paint a picture illustrating Justin Jefferson’s dislike for quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Justin Jefferson Makes His Case for Kirk Cousins in 2024 Quite Clear
The narrative was stupid then, baseless to the bones, and even more mind-boggling in 2024. Why? Well, Jefferson stated this week at the Super Bowl’s radio row that he’d love to have Cousins back in the saddle as QB1 in 2024.
Cousins is scheduled to hit free agency in about one month, and if no extension is finalized with the Vikings, a team he’s led for six years, Cousins could sign with a franchise like the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, or Pittsburgh Steelers.
Per Jefferson’s words, he’d rather not see Cousins find Minnesota’s exit sign. “I would like him to stay. I would love to have him stay and have that connection with him. It’s going to be difficult to create that new connection with a whole new quarterback. Especially if we don’t know if we’re going to draft one, we don’t know if we’re going to pick one up. It’s a difficult situation. I would like to have him back,” Jefferson said Wednesday while making a handful of show appearances on radio row.
Cousins is recovering from a torn Achilles suffered last October, will turn 36 this summer, and will probably fetch around $45 million via his next contract.
Jefferson added, “Kirk is great. Kirk is great as a teammate, as a person. Seeing the difference from having multiple quarterbacks throw to you as opposed to having that one main quarterback. It’s definitely a difference. You, kind of, appreciate it more.”
The Vikings’ phenom wide receiver also pointed out that purple fans had turned the corner in valuing Cousins, “I feel like everyone, especially Vikings fans, appreciate Kirk a little bit more now that we’ve seen him off the field. It’s definitely been tough, but to see him still in the training room, still interacting with us as a team, still having that high spirit. I guess we will see what goes on.”
Interestingly, Jefferson was asked about the reality of having Cousins back next season, and he replied, “I have no idea. It could be Kirk; It could not be Kirk. It doesn’t matter who is going to be throwing me that ball. I’m always going to be that same type of player.”
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must decide in the next month if there’s a happy medium with Cousins’ representation. Minnesota probably doesn’t have the $45 million annual asking price available to sign the veteran passer, as Jefferson needs an extension, along with Danielle Hunter. Christian Darrisaw, too, will need a new contract at this time next year, and tight end T.J. Hockenson is already the highest-paid tight end in league history.
Left up to Jefferson, though, he’d evidently prefer the Vikings find a way to do it all. Keep everybody, get himself paid, and run it back on offense.
NFL free agency gets underway on March 11th with “legal tampering.”
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 Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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