Familiar Face Weighs In on Kirk Cousins Sweepstakes
Dustin Baker
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Former Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman was in charge of the club for 16 years before departing after the 2021 season.
Familiar Face Weighs In on Kirk Cousins Sweepstakes
Since his exodus, he’s provided analysis at an NFL think-tank site, The 33rd Team. Spielman is a contributor year-round and especially ramps up coverage around draft time — also known as now.
Well, he has theories and opinions on a familiar topic: Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. Spielman signed Cousins to the NFL’s at-the-time-largest guaranteed deal in history, and Cousins has remained attached to Minnesota for six years. Now, though, the 35-year-old is on tap to explore free agency if no extension is finalized with the Vikings in the next two weeks.
Now, Spielman questions the idea of handing Cousins a guaranteed sack of cash. He told SiriusXM Radio last week, “I don’t know if he will get that fully guaranteed contract. He may want that, but you’ve got a 35-year-old quarterback coming off an Achilles.”
Cousins can probably command $40-$50 million on the open market, a price that may be too rich for the Vikings’ blood. Minnesota is finishing a “competitive rebuild” phase of roster construction, and handing Cousins $40-$50 million might not be feasible when Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw need huge paydays before too long. Minnesota also employs the richest tight end in NFL history, T.J. Hockenson, and may want to re-sign Danielle Hunter for a few more years. Cousins, based on age and the injury recovery, could be the odd man out.
Spielman added, “If Minnesota is not going give him that, which I don’t believe they will do that, then they’ll go ahead and let him get to the open market to see if anyone will give him a two or three-year fully guaranteed contract.”
Regarding the open market, the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New England Patriots make sense for Cousins’ 2024 services, although it’s unclear if any team will fully guarantee his deal like Spielman did a couple of times. The rumor mill has also whispered the Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and Washington Commanders as would-be Cousins destinations, even if those clubs are longshots.
Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel predicted last week that Cousins will return to Minnesota. Daniel told Trey Wingo. “I do think they’re going to find a way to work it out. I don’t know if it’s going to be all guaranteed because the two former regimes that gave him those are no longer there. This is a new regime, and I don’t think they want to set that precedent there. It’d be crazy if it’s not Minnesota.”
If Cousins walks, Minnesota would likely have to examine the NFL Draft for a new quarterback, an event that gets underway in 8.5 weeks.
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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