Questions Answered: Justin Jefferson’s QB Prediction, Spielman and Rodgers, Kirk Cousins’ Next Stop
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the February 6th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Justin Jefferson’s QB Prediction, Spielman and Rodgers, Kirk Cousins’ Next Stop
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: Did Justin Jefferson predict that Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy would be the starter next year?
Answer: Jefferson navigated the question at the Super Bowl’s radio row like a politician.
He basically offered a response that placated “both sides.”
“Having Sam being in there the whole season this past year, having 14 wins, bringing us to the playoffs, that just doesn’t happen overnight. You don’t just get a quarterback off the couch, and he can come and win 14 games for you. So you definitely have to keep that in the back of your mind, also,” Jefferson said Thursday at the Super Bowl’s radio row, speaking with Yahoo Sports.
“I feel like we’re gonna bring Sam back. I’m not sure, though, so don’t take my word for it. But I think it would be good to have him back and to build and see where it goes. But I definitely think J.J. is gonna have his opportunity. I don’t know.”
Jefferson spoke highly of McCarthy, too: “J.J., I feel like he’s definitely gonna get his shot and get his opportunity to do something and see where it goes. Just seeing how he was performing before he got injured, it was definitely looking pretty good. You have to give your first-round pick an opportunity. That’s a must. And that goes with practice, training camp, OTAs, that position battle is gonna happen, regardless.”
Jefferson predicted that Cousins would be back with the Vikings at this time last year, and that didn’t happen.
Thursday’s comments suggest he’s just a good teammate, supporting whichever quarterback makes it through to September.
And that’ll probably be McCarthy.
Q: With Rick Spielman in the house with the New York Jets as a senior adviser, what will happen with Aaron Rodgers?
Answer: We think Rodgers will stick around for one more ride.
This year’s rookie quarterback crop isn’t dazzling like last year’s. Rodgers, too, has sounded like he wants to return for another season.
Perhaps with new general manager Darren Mougey and Spielman’s input, New York will keep Rodgers for another year and draft a quarterback like Quinn Ewers or Jalen Milroe — a non 1st-Rounder — to develop.
Q: Where will Kirk Cousins play in 2025?
Answer: The Cleveland Browns. That’s our prediction.
The Atlanta Falcons will probably release Cousins relatively soon, and then his 2025 price tag will be similar to Russell Wilson’s in 2024. That is — a guy already paid by another team for the 2025 season and can sign elsewhere for cheap.
Kevin Stefanski coached Cousins in 2018 and 2019 with the Vikings, and that franchise is navigating quarterback and financial hell because of Deshaun Watson.
Cousins to Cleveland for cheap makes too much sense to get out from underneath the wickedly bad Watson Era.
The ex-Viking might even play well and rekindle his 2022 form.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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