Does Vegas Know? Oddsmakers Unveil Kirk Cousins’ 2024 Odds.
Dustin Baker
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In the next three weeks, the Minnesota Vikings will announce a verdict on quarterback Kirk Cousins, a man scheduled to hit open free agency for the first time in six years.
Does Vegas Know? Oddsmakers Unveil Kirk Cousins’ 2024 Odds.
Most of the time, during a Vikings offseason, onlookers can get the drop on the team’s eventual plans and decisions. But this time is different. The “Cousins decision” can, quite frankly, go either way.
And if the 35-year-old walks, a tangible possibility, sportsbooks have new and updated odds about his next team. An outfit last week posted similar odds but curiously posted the Washington Commanders at the top of the list, which didn’t make much sense.
DraftKings‘ odds, though, accurately reflect the state of play on Cousins. These are the current betting odds for Cousins’ next team:
- Minnesota Vikings: -200
- Atlanta Falcons: +300
- Pittsburgh Steelers: +800
- New England Patriots: +800
- Las Vegas Raiders: +1000
For newcomer clarity, the bettor would have to wager $200 to win $100 if Cousins re-ups with the Vikings. If the wagerer laid $100 on Atlanta and Cousins became a Falcon, she’d win $300.
So, the general takeaway is that the Vikings are still in the driver’s seat, per Vegas’ opinion, to keep Cousins in 2024 and perhaps beyond. If he walks, however, expect Atlanta to furnish a new contract.
This week, credible reporting suggested the Vikings’ front office and Cousins’ representation were gridlocked on the guaranteed money aspect of the would-be deal. SI.com’s Albert Breer reaffirmed the Cousins stakes on Monday, detailing the Vikings’ reluctance to spring for another sizable guaranteed contract, “The current Minnesota brass, now going into its third season, really likes Cousins, but it’s also been made clear that they’re not going to go contractually where the previous regime did twice, and give Cousins a fully guaranteed deal. Absent that, Cousins is now in position to hit the market like he did six years ago, this time older and, of course, more injured.”
Breer also stated about a timeline on the Cousins decision, “For what it’s worth, the Vikings did touch base with Cousins’ camp last week, as they got their pre-combine meetings going, so the lines of communication are open. More clarity could come in Indianapolis next week.”
If the Vikings decline to oblige Cousins’ usually-large asking price, well, the plot would really thicken. The club would need a QB1 via trade, free agency, or the 2024 NFL Draft. Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), and Bo Nix (Oregon) are expected to go off the board in Rounds 1 and 2 — options for Minnesota if a rookie is preferred.
But on the whole, the contingency plan may be moot, as Vegas expects Cousins back in the purple saddle next year. And Vegas doesn’t have a consistent track record of getting it wrong.
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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