The Minnesota Vikings have a big decision to make when it comes to Kirk Cousins' contract. The veteran midfielder is a free agent and is clearly in the twilight of his career, missing the second half of the 2023 season due to injury.
But if the Vikings want to be a competitive team in 2024, signing Cousins may be the best course of action.
Are Vikings Cousins and Kirk still a good fit for each other?
Unfortunately for the Vikings, things aren't that simple. The Vikings are in the middle of the pack when it comes to teams with just under $30 million in cap space.
That doesn't leave a lot of flexibility if they re-sign Cousins. Additionally, there's no guarantee Cousins will want to stay in Minnesota, as some free agency predicts Cousins will sign elsewhere. How do we understand Kirk Cousins' contract status with the Vikings heading into 2024?
How much is Kirk Cousins worth?
It goes without saying that Cousins will not be signing one of the biggest contracts of all time. But it might surprise some people what his value is now that he's a free agent. A year ago, the Vikings gave him a one-year, $35 million deal. Even with Cousins a year older than him and coming off injury, his annual salary could exceed that value.
Cousins could be in line to make nearly $40 million per season. Consider that dozens of quarterbacks have a contract that gives them an annual salary of at least $40 million. Cousins will certainly be in that neighborhood with his next contract. It's just a matter of whether he gets two or three years and whether the team is willing to guarantee the entire contract.
Right now, it doesn't appear that the Vikings are willing to give Cousins a guaranteed deal given his age and injury risk after rupturing his Achilles tendon last season.
Who are Kirk Cousins' other suitors?
If the Vikings aren't willing to commit to Cousins, other teams would be interested. For example, the Falcons appear to be a quarterback away from being a serious contender in the NFC, which makes Cousins an attractive option for them.
The Raiders are also potential suitors with the team poised to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo. Teams like the Giants, Steelers, and Patriots could also play for Cousins in free agency given their level of dissatisfaction with their current quarterback situation. In other words, Cousins has options outside of Minnesota.
Does Minnesota have other options?
On the flip side, what are Minnesota's options if Cousins isn't re-signed? With the 11th overall pick in the draft, the Vikings could start over with a rookie. Trading up to one of the first two or three picks in the draft is also possible if the Vikings desperately want one rookie over others.
Several veteran quarterbacks could be on Minnesota's radar. Baker Mayfield, Gardner Minshew, and Ryan Tannehill are free agents with experience and a track record of success. Kyler Murray is a trade candidate while Russell Wilson will likely become available. Of course, there is debate about which of these options makes the most sense and who would be an upgrade over Cousins.
Judgment
Ultimately, Cousins should be worth at least a two-year, fully guaranteed contract worth about $40 million per season for the Vikings. Three guaranteed seasons will play with fire with Cousins coming off an Achilles injury. However, Minnesota may have to take this opportunity and seize it.
Using an option you know is usually better than an option you don't. The Vikings know Cousins, which makes him a better option than bringing in an outside linebacker. Despite the injury concerns, Cousins played some of the best football of his career over the past two seasons with Kevin O'Connell.
With Jordan Addison emerging as a viable partner for Justin Jefferson, the Vikings have a team that can make some noise in 2024. So, it makes sense for the Vikings to do whatever it takes to keep Cousins and his catch.
