The Minnesota Vikings quarterback situation is very much up in the air entering the NFL offseason. So, what’re the latest Kirk Cousins rumors?
Cousins, as far as we know, isn’t going anywhere despite being mentioned in trade talks for quarterback-needy teams as recently as a few weeks ago.
The Michigan State product is signed to a fully-guaranteed deal through the 2022 season. At that point, the Vikings will have to make a more permanent decision on his future.
Kirk Cousins contract: When is he a free agent?
Cousins will hit free agency after the 2022 season, assuming he doesn’t sign an extension before then.
Kirk Cousins trade rumors
Cousins trade rumors have quieted of late. The Vikings quarterback made the Pro Bowl this season and thus had one of his best campaigns in Minnesota.
The Vikings new head coach, Kevin O’Connell, has a history with Cousins, as he was an offensive assistant when the two were in Washington.
“With Kevin I see a lot of the similarities that I saw with Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, Sean McVay,” Cousins said about O’Connell. “When they were hired as head coaches you knew they had great football minds, they were innovative, hard workers, good with people. The only real question was, they’re young.”
The Vikings hired a new general manager this offseason as well in Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Adofo-Mensah is an analytical football mind, and it’s the main reason why he was hired by the Vikings. This pairs well with a player like Cousins, who most analytics experts tend to side with, rather than the hoards of fans who consistently berate Cousins on a regular basis.
A new general manager doesn’t always mean a new quarterback. Perhaps Cousins, Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell are a trio made in heaven.
As for this offseason, it likely means Cousins is staying put unless we hear otherwise. The conversation could always change.
Kirk Cousins rumors: Who would replace him?
Unless the Vikings went out and made a big splash, the obvious choice to replace him is last year’s draft pick, former Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond. However, Mond didn’t inspire much confidence in former coach Mike Zimmer, so perhaps he isn’t ready.
The other options would be outside the organization, or via the NFL Draft.