Power ranking all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks

12. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

The list of guys who have thrown for over 4,000 yards for three straight seasons is pretty short. The fact that Cousins finds himself in such select company qualifies him to be considered an above average NFL starter at the very least.

Cousins may be receiving a bigger wide receiver upgrade than any other quarterback on this list. Trading in his mediocre group with the Redskins for the Vikings’ star studded cadre of pass catchers should make his life much easier. The only reason Cousins’ statistics aren’t a lock to shoot through the roof is that the Vikings should be nursing a lot of leads late in games this season.

Critics of Cousins will point out that his performance can really fluctuate based on his supporting cast. That’s an accurate point. That’s why Cousins finds himself at No. 12 and not somewhere around the top 5. He isn’t the sort of player who can elevate everyone around him.

However, he does deserve credit for playing at a high level for Washington even as the talent around him waxed and waned. There’s a big difference in throwing for 4,917 yards and 4,093, but they both are excellent totals.

Cousins isn’t a future Hall of Famer, but he’s good enough to give the Vikings a legitimate chance to win a Super Bowl this season. That’s not something a lot of NFL quarterbacks can say with their current franchises.