Kirk Cousins Just Let a Major Truth Bomb Slip
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins sounds like a man who regrets his decision.
Kirk Cousins revealed all in a documentary, dropping a head-turning comment about his 2024 free agency, which pretty much confirmed what people already knew.
Cousins left Minnesota in March 2024, chasing a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons and closing the door on a six-season relationship with the purple team. Six weeks after his decision, Atlanta shockingly drafted Cousins’ replacement, Michael Penix Jr, prompting onlookers to wonder why Cousins left Minnesota in the first place if he was already on borrowed time in Atlanta.
And, as it turns out, Cousins has that same question.
Kirk Cousins Tells All
A Netflix documentary provided clarity about 2024 free agency.
Kirk Cousins Probably Would’ve Just Stayed with the Vikings
Netflix debuted its much-anticipated follow-up documentary Tuesday, called Quarterback 2, a docuseries that followed Cousins, Jared Goff, and Joe Burrow through the 2024 regular season. Right off the bat, Cousins revealed the what-if nugget about leaving Minnesota.
“It felt like I had been a little bit misled, or certainly if I had had the information around free agency, it would have affected my decision,” Cousins said in Quarterback 2.
“I had no reason to leave Minnesota, with how much we loved it there, if both teams are going to be drafting a quarterback high. But I’ve also learned in 12 years in this league that you’re not entitled to anything. It’s all about being able to earn your spot and prove yourself.”
Some might call this buyer’s remorse.
Cousins continued, “The information I had at the time, I made the best decision. You also know that if you sit down Week 10 and take two or three weeks or more to let it heal, you may never get your job back. I remember reading Drew Brees’ book back in 2010 when he first wrote it, how he made the point that he tried to never let his backup see the field — even if it was somebody who was really no threat. He just felt like you should never do that.”
“Doug Flutie taught him that. So that was something I always was aware of, that in this league, if you give someone else the chance, if you want to get ‘Wally Pipped’ and there’s Lou Gehrig behind you, that can happen at the time.”
Folks Knew This Over a Year Ago
The funny part? Vikings fans have been saying this for a year-plus about Cousins. From the moment Atlanta drafted Penix Jr., folks scratched their heads.
It made no sense for Cousins to leave Minnesota if he knew that Atlanta would immediately find his successor. Minnesota had all about announced that plan for itself, and if the Falcons had been forthcoming with Cousins, he might’ve just stayed put as a patchover passer in the Twin Cities.
Think about it — why would he move to Atlanta laterally for an identical situation?
Cousins was absolutely misled, for better or worse.
Water under the Bridge
Of course, the Falcons’ faux deception is now irrelevant. That club will roll with Penix Jr. in 2025, and Cousins will serve as his backup. The Vikings have J.J. McCarthy, so both teams’ plans to find quarterbacks of the future in the 2024 NFL Draft are in full motion.
The Netflix documentary merely filled some historical gaps for hardcore fans.
Did It Work Out Better for the Vikings?
It’s also worth noting that Minnesota might’ve benefited from the Falcons’ strategy. The Vikings signed Sam Darnold for cheap and later won 14 games with him in charge. Cousins battled back from his torn Achilles but very visibly played hobbled at points last season. Even better is that the Vikings snagged the top compensatory pick due to Cousins leaving, a selection that allowed Minnesota to snag receiver Tai Felton (after a bit of pick shuffling due to a draft trade).
What would’ve been better for Kevin O’Connell’s team? Sam Darnold at $10 million and fully healthy? Or Cousins for three times that price with a gimpy Achilles?
Atlanta did Minnesota a favor.
ESPN on Kirk Cousins
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi added more context on Tuesday, “Cousins was aware the Falcons might draft a quarterback, but definitely not that high. He wasn’t informed about the Penix pick until a phone call by offensive coordinator Zac Robinson while Atlanta was on the clock.”
“The Falcons did eventually bench Cousins in Week 16. Penix took over and played solidly, though the team went 1-2 in those games and missed the playoffs. Most around the league expected the Falcons to release Cousins this offseason, but it didn’t happen.”
The Vikings actually beat Cousins and the Falcons handily last December.
Raimondi added, “The Falcons picked up his $10 million bonus in March and he remains on the roster heading into training camp. The thinking internally is that Cousins is worth more to the team as Penix’s backup than playing for someone else, especially since the Falcons are on the hook for $27.5 million of his salary this season either way.”
“Atlanta would surely listen to trade offers if they’re out there, with the hope that a team is willing to take on a chunk of that guaranteed money.”
So, overall, if you wondered why Cousins left the Vikings if they were destined to draft Penix Jr. — so does he. History would be rewritten if Cousins had all the facts, but Atlanta didn’t provide a clean bill of sale.
Beloved Ex-Viking Wants Back In
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