If This Is Good Riddance for Kirk Cousins, Well, It’s Time.
The Minnesota Vikings have had multiple narratives drive their offseason, but none have been louder than that of Kirk Cousins. The longtime veteran quarterback and his looming decision for 2024 have remained front and center. Now, it’s time to turn the page.
If This Is Good Riddance for Kirk Cousins, Well, It’s Time.
When the Minnesota Vikings went into the offseason, there was plenty of reason to think and hope Kirk Cousins would be back. He’s a 35-year-old quarterback coming off a significant injury. He had stated publicly he wanted to remain in Minnesota, and having established roots in the state after moving on from Washington, it made sense for him to be here.
Ultimately, though, as it always has with Cousins, it comes down to money.
When the Vikings first landed Cousins, it was on a lucrative deal that brought him out of Washington. At that time, he was a 29-year-old still looking to generate maximum earnings during his time in the NFL. He had won nothing with the Commanders, and despite a couple of franchise tag paydays, he hadn’t landed the big contract. Now, having been signed and extended in Minnesota, his career earnings are teetering on $250 million, except he’s still won nothing.
Entering the late stages of his career, the dollar still drives Cousins, and Minnesota doesn’t need to foot the bill again. Having to pay younger players, still looking to get theirs, the Vikings will owe massive sums to Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw in short order. Rather than play alongside the talent he knows and the familiarity he claims to care about, it seems Cousins is determined to hit the open market and land with the suitor writing the biggest check.
For Minnesota, at this stage of the story, it’s time to let him.
Cousins seems zeroed in on Atlanta, and the Falcons are prepared to make him a handsome offer in hopes of saving what they erroneously built around Desmond Ridder. Cousins is an upgrade there, to be sure, but it will be an entirely new situation he’s stepping into, and without winning, he’ll need to hope that the dollars are enough to keep him happy.
Drake London and Kyle Pitts are not the weapons he has grown accustomed to, and Vikings fans have seen proof that he isn’t enough to elevate a team on his own. The minute it became about the bottom line, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would be wise to walk away.
Cousins provided a level of stability that the Vikings so desperately needed. The state of Minnesota gave his family a level of continuity that was always relatively tumultuous in Washington. Both sides can turn the page, and we’ll all sit back and watch it unfold.
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Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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