NFL free agency update: Kirk Cousins will agree to deal with Vikings
Long in-search of some stability under center, the Minnesota Vikings will go all-in on Kirk Cousins.
As a quarterback under 30 set to be an unrestricted free agent, and with two franchise tag years under his belt, Kirk Cousins was going to get paid this offseason. The Minnesota Vikings will be the team to pony up, with multiple reports pointing to a three-year deal worth in the neighborhood of $28 million once it can officially be done.
As the Washington Redskins refused to commit to him long-term with a contract that reflected market value, Cousins played his hand perfectly with two straight fully guaranteed years under the franchise tag. That set the bar for a long-term deal, and the Vikings can also offer a stable, winning situation coming off a trip to the NFC Championship Game.
With brief flashes from young quarterbacks before injuries or over-exposure and similar things from veteran retreads, the Vikings have not had suitable stability under center the last 25-plus years at minimum. Cousins offers that, even over a three-year window.
Cousins has started all 16 games in three straight seasons, with over 4,000 yards through the air and at least 25 passing touchdowns in each campaign. He also sneakily adds something as a runner, with 13 rushing scores over those three seasons.
Contract details
Multiple reports have said Cousins will get a fully guaranteed deal from the Vikings, worth around $86 million as previously mentioned. That’s $28.6 million per year, again, fully guaranteed. The quarterback market in the NFL has changed.
National reaction
It's hard to deny how good Kirk Cousins has been the last few seasons. pic.twitter.com/HJY2mO0ZuW
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 13, 2018
Next: 2018 NFL Free Agent Tracker
Grade
There were plenty of rumors tying Cousins to the Vikings, and now it’s all but official. He’s obviously going to cost more than any of Minnesota’s three internal free agent options from last season, but Cousins comes with a solid track record as a starter and no pre-existing injury concerns.
It’s possible Cousins does not deliver a trip to the Super Bowl, and his three-year tenure in Minnesota is looked back on as an overall disappointment. But the move does not strap the Vikings salary cap-wise this year and it had to be made, in line with a short window to win at a high level as the roster is currently otherwise constructed.