Kirk Cousins has carved out a pleasant profession for himself since getting into the NFL in 2012. The previous fourth-round decide was drafted to the identical staff as one of many greatest prospects of his class, Robert Griffin III. After Griffin’s hype fizzled out, Cousins took over and even grew to become a Professional Bowl choice for Washington in ’16. He moved on to Minnesota from there and over the previous six years as a Viking, Cousins has had his contracts absolutely assured. However in accordance with current experiences, the Vikings have had sufficient of Cousins’ absolutely assured offers.
That’s not too unhealthy for the 102nd decide in his draft. A participant who most figured would hardly ever if ever see stay motion on Sundays. The contracts Cousins has been capable of get in Minnesota are extremely coveted in a league that historically ensures little to nothing.
With Cousins getting into free company and coming off an Achilles tear that restricted him to eight video games in ’23, the Vikings are apparently saying no to a different absolutely assured contract. Regardless of how good Cousins has been throughout his tenure in Minnesota, the group is correct to proceed with warning. That damage is hard for anybody to get well from, not to mention a 35-year-old quarterback.
Positive, Cousins has been actually good and even nice at occasions over the past six years. However when evaluating Cousins to his contemporaries across the league, one title that steadily pops up is Dak Prescott. By way of manufacturing on the sector and the way far they’ve been capable of lead their respective franchises, there are a whole lot of similarities. That comparability alone is a little bit of a double-edged sword.
Prescott is one other QB who’s been a starter for a few years and often performs wherever within the good to essentially and typically nice vary. Each have had a number of 4,000-yard passing campaigns whereas additionally throwing for greater than 30 touchdowns a number of occasions. But, neither has been capable of push their groups ahead into the NFC championship recreation.
Cousins is 1-3 (with Washington and Minnesota) within the playoffs whereas Prescott is 2-5. Not precisely apples to apples however the outcomes have been missing as a rule within the playoffs. So, the Vikings are justified in not leaping proper into one other assured cope with Cousins. Though he’s been good, he hasn’t propelled them previous the second spherical.
The Vikings’ final look on Championship weekend was the yr earlier than Cousins arrived, with Case Keenum taking snaps beneath heart. Nobody’s saying Keenum is a greater or extra completed QB than Cousins, however he did put up an 11-3 document as a starter that yr in Minnesota. It was the definition of flash within the pan, however Keenum helped the Vikings come inside one win of enjoying within the Tremendous Bowl.
Mr. Cousins has performed so much however has not been capable of duplicate that in six years. Whereas there’s nonetheless time to determine issues out, it appears like this relationship has run its course. Even when Minnesota desires to maintain Cousins outdoors the parameters of his standard absolutely assured contract, they possible gained’t be keen to pay him what he expects. Nonetheless, if Cousins is anticipating to interrupt the financial institution after an Achilles damage, then he’s in for a impolite awakening.
