3 Vikings who can’t be brought back for post-Mike Zimmer rebuild

Kirk Cousins

It’s time for a clean break between Kirk Cousins and the Vikings.

Cousins looked like a solid signing in his second year with Minnesota. He led them to a 10-5 record while earning a Pro Bowl nod.

He’s had a losing record in two subsequent seasons, missing the playoffs both times while his performances have been fine but never great.

The relationship between Cousins and Zimmer wasn’t exactly healthy in 2021, so the expected departure of the latter could mean a second life for the former. The quarterback does still have a year left on his contract.

At the same time, Cousins has a cap hit of $45 million and is guaranteed $35 million, so Minnesota has a pretty big incentive to get his contract off their books ahead of schedule.

Parting ways with Cousins would require a trade partner willing to take on that contract, and the draft picks necessary to make that deal happen.

Whether Cousins leaves in 2022 via a trade or 2023 when his contract is up, it seems inevitable the next era of Vikings football won’t include him.