New Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell wanted a chance to build an offense around quarterback Kirk Cousins. Well, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, he will get his chance as the Vikings will sign Cousins to a one-year, $35MM extension that will keep him in Minnesota through the 2023 NFL season. 
The Vikings reportedly had been receiving calls on Cousins, but the new coaching staff and general manager are declaring their commitment to the veteran quarterback and gaining some much needed cap space in the process.
Cousins’ scheduled cap hit for 2022 was set to be the largest in NFL history at $45MM. The extension reduces his 2022 cap number to $31.42MM, granting Minnesota a little over $13.5MM in cap space. In addition, Cousins will see a raise, making $40MM this season and $30MM in 2023. The deal includes phantom, voidable years in 2024 & 2025 that allow them to reduce the cap hits in ’22 and ’23.
Say what you will about Cousins pay and performance, but after receiving two consecutive franchise tags in Washington, a three-year fully-guaranteed contract to join the Vikings, and two fully-guaranteed extensions to stay in Minnesota, Cousins has secured eight-straight seasons of guaranteed contracts.
There are expectations for Cousins to thrive under O’Connell. With offensive weapons like running backs Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison, wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and K.J. Osborn, and tight end Irv Smith Jr. all returning, the familiarity of personnel should make up for the new playbook. The bookends of the offensive line seem set with Christian Darrisaw showing promise after a delayed debut and Brian O’Neill making the Pro Bowl last year. There are some questions to be answered on the interior of the line, but the pieces, for the most part, are there.
The onus will now be on the coaching staff and front office to make offseason improvements to a defense that struggled mightily last year. The Vikings defense allowed the third-most yards in the league and the ninth-most points. If the new leaders in Minnesota can turn around that unit, look for Minnesota to make a play for a playoff spot and potentially even challenge the perennial NFC North power from Green Bay for the division.
Lmfao. Yikes
Yikes? Enjoy last place again.
Enjoy 9-8 and winning nothing again.
Your state doesn’t have an NFL team. Why are you here?
But their team could beat Kirk Cousins and the viqueens… so he gets a say
Ahh, sure…
Your state doesn’t have a team either….
Ummm . Then how can there be so many haters?
Like omg, haven’t you seen them play and like miss those field goals and like always lose in the playoffs?
Your name is Delbert? even your parents hated you.
If you think that’s my real name then that’s cool. Do I think your name is Skol? No, I’m not that dumb. But hey, you also think the Vikings are good so who knows?
They are a solid franchise. I’m not a fan because I think they’re good. It’s in my blood. Good, bad, mediocre. It’s who I am.
Some men are winners and leaders of men. Some are not.
Wasn’t his fault the Vikings had the leagues worst ranked defense son
Based on what metric?
Not saying their defense was great but it certainly wasn’t the worst.
They were 30th in total defense out of 32 teams. Not to mention I believe they gave up the most points in the final 2 minutes of a half (2nd and 4th qtr) in history. Don’t watch em much?
3rd worst as far as yards allowed and 3rd worst as far as points allowed.
It’s a testament that they even finished 8-9 Cousins had a damn good year without him they probably finish 4-13 So keep bashing him let’s see how many games they win without him
If they took $10-15M and used it on the defense instead of Cap’n Kirk….
That honor will be fought over by the lions and bears
I’m willing to give the new coaching staff and GM the benefit of the doubt and see what they can do with Kirk. It’s not personally my first choice as I’d like to rebuild but it’s still a better choice than giving up a haul for Watson.
I concur. In some people’s minds, Kirk isn’t / wasn’t a winner. But QBs need defenses and O-Lines or it’s a long haul. Minnesota was in almost every game this year, but could not keep a lead. That is on the defense. Kirk did his job.
They don’t rebuild in the NFL they reload. it’s not like MLB. Teams can come back very quickly through the draft and free agency
I think that’s just semantics since we’re talking about the same thing. Yes it’s not as dramatic as an MLB teardown but both involve trading vets who likely won’t be around the next time you’re competitive for picks and replacing them with younger cheaper options. I would have been fine trading Kirk, Thielen, Hunter, Harrison Smith, heck I would even be fine trading Dalvin Cook.
Cue all the Cousins haters. Last I checked he didn’t play defense. Cousins was the reason a lot of those losses were close
I’m not a Cousins hater but there is NO WAY he is worth $35MM.
By opening weekend in 2023 the top 10 highest pod QBs will all be in $40 plus million per deals. He is absolutely worth $35mil
He’s the reason they’re all getting paid. Let’s not confuse great negotiating tactics with being a great quarterback.
He’s the reason? Dude shut up. You’re ignorant. The market sets the cost period. What else is his fault? The gas prices?
If you think Kirk cousins is going to ever be worth 35 million I don’t think you should be posting here. He’s mediocre at best son
Look at his stats son. Really look at them throughout his career and then tell me he’s mediocre.
15th in qbr
Nfl.com rated all qbs after the season he was 13th
“ Cousins’ year-end rankings are consistent. (This is the third time he’s finished exactly 13th.) His streaky play within seasons is anything but steady. Just when Cousins had the cognoscenti talking up one of his best years, the Vikings asked Cousins to be more aggressive down the stretch, and he struggled. ”
If you think the 15th ranked qb is worth 35 mil a year I repeat you shouldn’t be posting here son
And that’s the bottom line cause stone cold said so
Yeah, like 9 and 50 against teams with a winning record….
You’re right, he isn’t even mediocre. More a 4th quarter stat stud.
And Watson is? They make about the same
Cousins had a passer rating of 103.3 very,very good year
Elite qbs make their team better. Cousins has 2 above average Wrs and a top 5 rb and still can’t make the playoffs. Name another qb with 3 great offensive players (who aren’t on the ol) who can’t make the playoffs
Cousins is decent but not even close to being worth 35 mil a year
I’m not saying he SHOULD be making $35M, but please look at all starting (and even some backups) who are OFF their rookie contract.
They extended him. I get it drops the their cap next season but they extended a mediocre qb. Let’s just waste another of cook, theilen, and Jefferson’s seasons. As much as I loathe Watson for his off the field stuff he is miles and miles above Kirk cousins and would actually give the Vikings a chance. Kirk has proven he can’t get them over the hump. He’s not magically going to become a top qb. He’s had one amazing trait and that’s his play action passing. That one trait hasn’t exactly led to success. I’m sure the only 2 Viking fans here will have something to say about that
Problem with Watson, A LOT of draft capital, PLUS $$ to extend him, PLUS possibility of leagues suspension (I know, I know, he wasn’t convicted, but on one of these pages they listed all of the suspensions that occurred WITHOUT guilty pleas). There’s defiantly baggage there.
Is he a better QB than Cousins, yes. Is it worth it – some would say yes, some would say no.
They really need to move on. He prove he can’t lead them . What more do they want barely making the playoffs and never getting far ??
Cousins is easily worth his money. At least 10% to 30% of those other top qb’s will miss more games than he does. He doesn’t play defense so he will get a better coach that probably won’t wait for his defense to collapse and a gm that understands he needs better protection that’s not just rookies. There’s 4 items in play here: 1)better coaching, 2)better o line play, 3)more aggressive play calling and 4) a better defense. Take note haters, the Vikings did beat the packers last year and should’ve been 5-1 in the division. Poor coaching was in the way of a 10+ win season. Say good bye to all those field goals. SKOL VIKINGS!
100% this. Klint Kubiak was public enemy #1 on the offensive side
Durability has been a career hallmark of Cousins. Along with falling apart in the big games, garbage time stats, confidence issues and very big contracts.
Cousins is a great agent and accountant, I’ll give that to him.
I guess they think Cousins can do better with a coach who actually *wants* to throw the ball.
I don’t particularly like that.
When you are in a hole, keep digging say the Vikes.
I think this makes it easier to trade him.
I believe this extension has a “no trade clause” (I could be wrong).
Most overpaid qb in the NFL
Kirk cousins Cant play defense. he engineered 7 4th quarter comebacks until the defense let him down. and Prescott gets the honor as being the most overpaid quarterback.
well the two highest paid quarterbacks didn’t make the the super bowl so what’s your point Cam Newton’s overpaid quarterback for your team
Nothing like watching someone lose an argument when they have to use the line “well your team is….” Sorry to break it to you but cousins is mediocre and the Vikings will never win a super bowl, probably never advance past the first round with him as their starting qb. I’m a cowboys fan so go ahead cowboys blah blah blah haven’t won since 95 blah blah blah bad cooper trade blah blah blah overpriced dak and Elliot it’s fine. End of the day after all that cousins will still be mediocre at best
Well… they already did advance past the 1st round with Kirk as their QB so…
Hahah maybe I should have made it a little clearer. With cousins they will continue to NEVER win a title. He won 1 wild card game let’s hear it for the great Kurt Cousins. I mean if you’re satisfied with that level of success it totally makes sense you’re a Vikings fan. I’m sure you’ll come back with “you said he’ll never win a playoff game”. He got lucky Dan Bailey and Dalvin cook keep the Vikings in the game and cousins finally showed up in overtime wooooooo let’s all praise Kurt “mediocre” cousins!!!
Hallmark of every Cousins hater. When proven wrong, change the goalpost to fit your narrative. It’s his fault when they lose and he never gets credit for when they win. I know, I’ve seen it consistently.
He’s won one wild card game that’s it. Maybe you should cancel your kneepads order until he actually wins something meaningful. Again wasting the best years of a top 5 rb plus 2 above average Wrs. If you’re happy with winning wild card games (sorry game it was only one) then hurray for you. So you think Kirk should be the top paid qb right? That Aaron rodgers contract should be his right? Viking fans are about as delusional as Mets fans.
And son I’m not a cousins hater I just know wasting 30 plus mil on an average qb is why the Vikings continue to NEVER win a championship. Mediocre qb for a mediocre team. Now please continue to blow Kirk “I’m only averages” cousins
What does it say about this years draft class that an organization would pay their QB $35M to be a lame duck?
Even middle of the pack QBs have insane value in this league. Wish a team would have the guts to implement a scheme that de-emphasized the position.
Be nice if they could trade back about 5/6 spots and pick up more draft capital and still get a defensive starter or that center from Iowa AND another pick in top 4 rounds.
They need multiple defensive payers brought in , but dang that Center would look good for 5/6 years here