Fansided

5 offseason moves the Minnesota Vikings must make

By Brad Berreman

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 05: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts against the New Orleans Saints during a game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 05: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts against the New Orleans Saints during a game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images /

4. Extend Kirk Cousins

In concert with Zimmer and Spielman, extending the starting quarterback is also on the Vikings’ offseason agenda. Next year will be the final year of his three-year, $84 million deal, and he did more than enough this season to earn a new deal. Yes he felt flat in some big games again, but unless a substantial upgrade can somehow be found the Vikings have to re-commit.

After cashing in the way he did, playing out franchise tags with the Washington Redskins before getting a fully guaranteed contract with the Vikings, Cousins may be willing to take a relative discount in his next contract. An extension this offseason, with some financial maneuvering, would also surely reduce his bloated $31 million cap hit for 2020. So a new deal would be beneficial to both sides, in terms of security and finances.

Some Vikings’ fans may be fine letting Cousins play out his current contract, and then seeing the team be ready to move on scott-free next offseason. But as the team and situation is currently constructed it’s a better move to extend him, even if it’s only for two or three years with viable financial outs built in.

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