Kirk Cousins now favored to play for Minnesota Vikings?
Will Denver Broncos top quarterback option Kirk Cousins choose the Minnesota Vikings in free agency? We look into some of the latest reports…
Kirk Cousins is certainly going to be a popular name this week in Indianapolis as the NFL Scouting Combine is set to get underway on Tuesday with players arriving and checking in, going through some of the initial stages of the event before on-field drills begin Thursday.
Cousins’ agent — Mike McCartney — will be meeting with the Broncos to discuss another one of his clients, Trevor Siemian, who has started 24 games for the Broncos over the past two seasons.
While Siemian may be the focus of their talks, it will be interesting to see what Elway and McCartney discuss as it pertains to other players. Cousins’ name isn’t allowed to be mentioned by either agent nor team before the ‘legal tampering’ period, but we’ll see what types of projected numbers come out at the Combine for a possible Cousins contract.
One team who has been sort of sitting in the peanut gallery is the Minnesota Vikings, at least as it relates to Cousins.
The Vikings, on paper, seem to have one of the best situations for Cousins.
They can afford to make the financial investment, they have three quarterbacks on expiring contracts, they have two excellent young receivers, a very good defense, and if healthy a potential budding star at running back in Dalvin Cook.
The Vikings also play in a brand new stadium, and hired a new offensive coordinator in John DeFilippo who will likely be the most coveted head coaching candidate in the NFL next offseason.
The Vikings have a lot to pitch Cousins, so when it was leaked that they were unlikely to franchise tag quarterback Case Keenum, who helped lead them to the NFC Championship game, rumors started to run rampant that the Vikings were going to be major players for Cousins.
So why did this all of a sudden change for much of the media today?
There was little to no chance the Vikings would tag Keenum anyway, because after just one season of big production, there was no way he was going to command a salary with the starting figure of $24 million per year.
Not a chance.
The Vikings or any other team for that matter are not going to pay Case Keenum $24 million per season. It’s not going to happen. So what changed with this ‘news’?
To me, nothing has changed. The information that has leaked to the national media happened for a reason, though.
You have to keep in mind — rumors break at this time of year and if you choose to believe them, you’re likely setting up for major disappointment.
Just last week, it was reported that the New York Jets were preparing to make an offer to Cousins that would net him $60 million in the first year of the deal.
That rumor has died just about as quickly as it bloomed to life, hasn’t it?
Now, we’re reading all of a sudden that because the Vikings didn’t tag Keenum, they are moving all of their energy to Cousins?
I don’t necessarily buy it.
I’m not trying to be stubborn and find every way the Broncos are going to be able to sign Cousins because I want it to happen, I’m just trying to be objective here.
Think about this…
More from Predominantly Orange
- Broncos chances of landing Sean Payton dwindling, but not gone
- Denver Broncos dream coaching staff for DeMeco Ryans
- Denver Broncos: “Sleeper” David Shaw checks every box
- The Broncos’ coaching search likely has not gone to plan
- Special Chiefs Suck Offer: Bet $5, Win $150 if Joe Burrow Passes for ONE YARD vs KC
The Vikings have three quarterbacks they like, all of which are not under contract in two weeks. The news leaks about them not franchise tagging the guy who helped take them to the NFC Championship game, and then they are suddenly going to make a serious run at Kirk Cousins.
It sounds a lot to me like the Vikings let this information out as a tactic for getting the player they want at the price they want.
Would Cousins be an upgrade for them? I think so. Is it worth an extra $10-12 million (or more) per season to them to switch everything up and get a new quarterback in place, losing all of Teddy Bridgewater, Keenum, and Sam Bradford?
I’m not so sure.
The Vikings aren’t going to be able to keep all three of those guys, maybe not even two, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that before agents and teams meet at the Combine, this news breaks that they aren’t going to tag Keenum, and rumors start to fly around about their interest in Cousins.
Who do you think is going to meet with Keenum’s agent at the Combine? Legally, the Vikings are the only team that can talk contract with Keenum’s agent.
My guess is, that’s exactly what they’re going to do, and they’re going to use Kirk Cousins as their ultimate leverage.