Kirk Cousins could be close to leaving the Minnesota Vikings.
The quarterback will headline this offseason’s free-agent quarterbacks if the Vikings can’t re-sign him by next Wednesday. A Vikings reporter believes that’s the likely scenario.
“If history is a reliable guide, Kirk Cousins is down to his final days as the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote to start an article explaining why the working relationship is potentially nearing an end.
Seifert noted that the Vikings would effectively need to sign Cousins before his contract voids on March 13 if they want him back. Signing him after would tack on a $28.5 million cap overlay in dead money.
Cousins has optimized his financial return before, so Seifert doesn’t expect the 35-year-old to forgo the open market. The Atlanta Falcons are among the teams planning to target Cousins.
Seifert pointed to comments from Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell indicating an understating that Cousins will pursue free agency before making any decision.
“I know Kirk is going to go through a full process. He’s a process guy,” O’Connell said. “Hopefully we continue to be a strong part in that process and we figure out a way to keep him a Minnesota Viking. My expectation is that we aren’t going to be the only ones that want Kirk Cousins to be the quarterback of our team in 2024.”
Finally, Seifert noted that Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hasn’t expressed an urgency to go all out for a new deal. The Vikings reportedly won’t offer Cousins another fully guaranteed contract.
Seifert called Cousins leaving the “likeliest path,” prompting the Vikings to turn to the draft or free agency for a replacement.
“Barring an out-of-character decision from Cousins, they will soon have no choice but to move to Plan B,” Seifert concluded.