Nov 6, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes the ball as Washington Commanders defensive end James Smith-Williams (96) defends during the fourth quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports.
The Washington Commanders have new everything — ownership, general manager, and head coach. Soon, they’re likely to have a new quarterback, and with one week before free agency, why not Kirk Cousins?
That’s the latest theory, or at least side note mentioned by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Cousins will hit open free agency on Monday if the Minnesota Vikings don’t extend his contract. As of March 6th, it actually feels more likely that Cousins leaves than stays, especially because sportsbooks list the Atlanta Falcons as the frontrunner for his services.
Schefter joined The Pat McAfee Show on Monday and said this when asked about Cousins’ next employer: “It certainly sounds like right now, Kirk Cousins will have as his primary two options Atlanta and Minnesota. Maybe Washington jumps in.”
Washington owns the second overall pick in April’s draft, prime territory to select LSU’s Jayden Daniels or North Carolina’s Drake Maye. The theory, evidently, from Schefter seems to suggest that signing Cousins for $40-$50 million — a reunion deal because he spent six seasons in Washington from 2012 to 2017 — would nail down the QB1 spot while allowing the Commanders to trade the second pick to the highest bidder.
The Commanders could then maximize their draft cabinet, probably gaining at least four high-round picks for the price of one. With Cousins’ ability to produce 4,000+ passing yards and 30+ touchdown passes like clockwork, head coach Ron Rivera and friends would be off to the races with coherent roster building. That’s the theory, anyway.
On the whole, it’s probably unlikely that Washington “acts backward,” getting the band back together with Cousins and hoping this time will be different than eight years ago. Obtaining the second overall pick isn’t frequent, so Washington has a rare opportunity to scout and draft an affordable rookie quarterback who can define the next decade.
Ironically, since Washington, under totally different leadership, decided it didn’t want Cousins in 2017, it has used the last seven offseasons attempting to find Cousins’ replacement.
Nothing worked.
On Monday night, Pro Football Talk reported that the Falcons, not the Commanders, were trending as the favorites to sign Cousins. Mike Florio wrote, “We can’t get into the specifics, for now. But we’re getting very credible indications that Cousins is seriously considering moving his family to Atlanta. Which would mean, obviously, that he’d be signing with the Falcons. The Falcons have always been the top alternative to the Vikings for Cousins, who becomes an unrestricted free agent next Wednesday.”
Whether staying with the Vikings or landing with the Falcons, Commanders, or elsewhere, the Cousins verdict should be announced early next week.
He’ll turn 36 in August.
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.