The Minnesota Vikings-Kirk Cousins era will come to an end after confirmation from his agent, Mike McCartney. After six up and down seasons as the Viking QB, Cousins has decided to take a free agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons. It didn't take long, with the free agent "tampering" window opening at 11:00 a.m. Monday. The announcement came just after 1:00 p.m.
Full terms of the deal were not officially announced, but reports suggest it is for around $45 million per year for a total of $180 million according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. He adds $100 million is guaranteed. McCartney confirms it is a four-year deal.
“After significant and positive dialogue with Kirk and his representatives, we were unable to reach agreement on a contract that fits the short and long-term visions for both Kirk and the Minnesota Vikings," says Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in a statement released after the signing. "Kirk holds a special place in Vikings history, and we appreciate his leadership and contributions to the team and the Minneapolis-St. Paul community over the past six seasons. We wish him, his wife, Julie, and their children all the best."
"Our approach heading into free agency always included layers of contingencies regarding the quarterback position," Adofo-Mensah continues. "We are moving forward with plans that allow us to continue building a roster that can compete for a championship.”
One issue between the Vikings and Cousins was believed to be the contract's structure with Cousins wanting the money fully guaranteed along with a multi-year deal. It appears the Vikings weren't willing to match the same things Atlanta did.
"When you look at Atlanta, they have a lot of high draft picks, a lot of weapons, their owner is 81-years old and I think really wants to get back to the playoffs," Purple Insider Matthew Coller told WCCO's Huddle on Sunday. "When you look at their offense, they would probably run a similar system as Kevin O'Connell, it all just kind of matches up there."
Cousins started 2023 with what was shaping up to be his best season in Minnesota. But Cousins tore his Achilles in October during a win over the Packers ending his season, an injury that now ends his time in Minnesota.
While Cousins was a durable (until his Achilles injury) and dependable QB for the Vikings, he was being paid top dollar and only delivered one playoff win in his six years in Minnesota. There was a love-hate relationship with the fanbase who were never satisfied with the final result while still admiring Cousins' toughness and good guy persona.
The Viking's top brass had made it pretty clear they wanted Cousins back, but that they wanted him back on their terms.
At the Combine, Viking Head Coach Kevin O'Connell was more direct in saying that Cousins deserved the right to test free agency, typically a sign that a player won't be back.
Coller adds that the Vikings were always going to make Cousins an offer to come back but it would be what they consider reasonable, and they weren't willing to mortgage their future for the 36-year old quarterback coming off a major injury.
"With the Vikings, their plan has always been to give Kirk what they felt is a reasonable offer, and then if someone beats it, OK," says Coller. "There's only so much money you can give Kirk and still build a roster around him. The Vikings have an unbelievable amount of free agents and positions that are open. How can you do that if you bring Kirk back on an unbelievably big contract?"
The loss of Cousins sets off a domino effect for the Viking roster, which has some major needs in areas beyond the quarterback too: defensive line, defensive secondary, running back and as always, the offensive line.
There's also the matter of star receiver Justin Jefferson who is entering the last year of his contract and the Vikings know they need to pony up big dollars to keep him.
"With Justin Jefferson, I think you're going to have to take a deep breath and be patient," says Coller who says San Francisco's Nick Bosa didn't sign his extension until September. "We may be looking at something similar here. I still have a ton of confidence Jefferson will sign an extension with the Vikings. The trade rumors are totally bogus. When you're going to be the highest paid at a position it's complicated. It's not an easy thing to work out. I think it will happen."
Most pressing however, is the Vikings now enter the 2024 free agency period and heading towards the draft without a clear starter at the most important position in all of sports. Josh Dobbs, Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens are still on the Viking roster but as Viking fans saw towards the end of last season, none of those three are a longtime answer at QB. Dobbs is also a pending free agent and it's pretty unlikely the Vikings bring him back.
Most speculation is that the Vikings will target a QB in the draft. The team picks 11th but could potentially trade up if they see an opportunity to get one of the top college QBs. Michigan's J.J. McCarthy is the most likely to be available after the top three are chosen early in the first round. Those are USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye and LSU's Jaylen Daniels.
Another option would be to sign a veteran free agent QB and buy some time to develop a younger QB. Names to watch are former Titans QB Ryan Tannehill, former Jet and 49er Sam Darnold, and former Commander, Patriot and Colt Jacoby Brissett.
With free agents already signing and Cousins so quickly moving on, the Vikings need to act fast.
"I think their favorite option would be to trade up to get Drake Maye, he's a perfect fit with Kevin O'Connell with the arm talent, the playmaking, he kind of reminds me of Matthew Stafford," Coller said. "If you don't get him, do you have to trade up to get J.J. McCarthy, can you wait and get Michael Penix (Washington) or Bo Nix (Oregon), both of who I think are good prospects. The options become immense after Kirk leaves."
The big NFL news over the weekend were Russell Wilson agreeing to sign in Pittsburgh after the Broncos let him go. And Tampa re-signs Baker Mayfield after he led the Bucs to a playoff win over the Eagles before losing in Detroit. That took two names off the Viking list and there's a pretty large drop off between them and the other free agents available.