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Minnesota Vikings: 5 burning questions for 2018

By Joe D'Aloisio

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) laughs before the start of the regular season game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) laughs before the start of the regular season game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 31: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kirk Cousins No. 8 of the Washington Redskins in action against the New York Giants on December 31, 2017 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Redskins 18-10. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 31: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Kirk Cousins No. 8 of the Washington Redskins in action against the New York Giants on December 31, 2017 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Redskins 18-10. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

1. Is Kirk Cousins the quarterback Minnesota has been missing?

The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, without one it’s very difficult to win. Minnesota hasn’t had a signal caller of that caliber since Daunte Culpepper.

Since 2006, the Vikings have had 16 different quarterbacks under center. With Teddy Bridgewater out, the Vikings relied on Case Keenum, who had a career year. He threw for 3,547 yards, 22 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.

Despite his successful season, the Vikings opted to let him go and also released Bridgewater and Sam Bradford. With no quarterbacks on the roster, Minnesota threw all their eggs in one basket and signed this off-season’s biggest prize, Kirk Cousins.

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Minnesota signed Cousins to a three-year deal, worth $84 million, making him the highest paid player in NFL history and the first quarterback to sign multi-year, fully guaranteed deal.

Cousins has started in every single game the past three seasons and has thrown for at least 4,000 yarders and 25 touchdowns. There have only been three quarterbacks to throw for over 4,000 yards in Vikings history: Brett Favre, Culpepper and Waren Moon.

The Vikings already have a stout defense; they also have young playmakers in Dalvin Cook, Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen and Kyle Rudolph. Adding Cousins will help elevate each of their game.

On the flip side, Minnesota is investing a ton of money on a quarterback that has a below .500 record and has never won in the playoffs.

Last season the Vikings made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game, anything short of that will be a disappointment with Cousins taking over. Expectations are high and the Vikings want results.

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