The Minnesota Vikings are under pressure to make a decision regarding Kirk Cousins’ contract before March 13th, or risk him becoming a free agent, resulting in a significant financial hit for the team. Despite this deadline looming, the Vikings express confidence in their approach.
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Vikings seem to have a set offer for Cousins, indicating that if he finds a better option elsewhere, he is free to pursue it. The team appears realistic about the situation, believing that Cousins will discover that other opportunities are not superior to what the Vikings can offer.
Both parties have expressed willingness to negotiate a new contract. However, there are differing views within the organization. While Head Coach Kevin O’Connell supports Cousins exploring free agency and betting on himself, General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah suggests that the team might consider a slight setback in the upcoming season if it serves their long-term competitiveness.
Despite projections indicating Cousins could command a lucrative contract worth $39.3 million per year, the Vikings remain in a critical phase of deciding his future with the team.
Vikings Still Facing Cap Space Questions Beyond Kirk Cousins
The Vikings are heading into the offseason with $41 million in cap space, a figure that considers the release of Alexander Mattison but doesn’t factor in other potential adjustments. While this amount could potentially cover Kirk Cousins’ contract, it would leave the team with limited flexibility for other roster moves.
Furthermore, the situation could become more challenging if Cousins attracts offers from other teams willing to offer higher salaries, forcing the Vikings to match those offers to retain him.
Adding to the complexity, there are 13 teams with greater cap space than the Vikings, including the Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, and Washington Commanders. These teams have all been linked to Cousins in various reports since the end of the season.
Of these options, the Falcons seem to have the strongest connections to Cousins, particularly due to his previous association with Head Coach Raheem Morris during their time in Washington. Additionally, Cousins has personal ties to the Atlanta area through his wife.
Vikings Linked to Drake Maye
The Minnesota Vikings made a significant move by hiring Josh McCown as their new quarterbacks coach, which has sparked speculation that the team is considering trading up in the draft to secure a top quarterback prospect.
McCown’s coaching experience includes working with Drake Maye, a presumed top quarterback prospect in high school. At 21 years old, Maye is among the younger quarterbacks in this draft class. This connection could potentially influence the Vikings’ draft strategy, as they may aim to bring in Maye while retaining Kirk Cousins.
Opting to keep Cousins and trade up for Maye could offer the Vikings a blend of immediate competitiveness and future promise.
Currently, there are compelling reasons for the Vikings to retain Cousins rather than parting ways with him. However, the final decision may hinge on the specifics of Cousins’ contract structure.
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