The Unbelievable Strategy to Bring Back Star…….

Now that the Vikings’ season has concluded, discussions about extending the contract of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins are gaining momentum. General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had expressed the team’s intention to negotiate an extension back in November when Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury. Despite Cousins affirming his desire to remain in Minnesota, the focus of upcoming negotiations will be on the structure of the new deal, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.

While some may raise questions about committing to a quarterback in his late 30s, Cousins had been showcasing some of the best football of his career before his injury. Leading the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns, he was on track to set career highs in various categories through eight games. Paired with the emergence of rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison alongside star Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn, Minnesota’s season prospects looked promising.

Even before the injury, Cousins was expected to stay in Minnesota. Despite a challenging 1-4 start to the season, trade talks never materialized, and the Vikings made it clear that Cousins was not available.

The clock is now ticking for Minnesota to finalize a new deal with Cousins before the start of the 2024 league year on March 14. Failure to extend him by then would result in $28.5 million in dead money, a consequence of the void-year money used in his current contract.

While both parties seem willing to reach an agreement, concerns about the deal’s structure are significant. Cousins is associated with paradigm contracts featuring fully guaranteed money. Interestingly, Cousins stated that “the dollars are really not what it’s about” and emphasized his focus on other aspects like length, incentives, bonuses, etc. Although he may still seek a respectable salary, Cousins seems more inclined to consider various elements of the deal rather than just the monetary aspect.

Currently ranking 15th among active quarterbacks in average annual contract value at $35 million per year, it’s challenging to predict the new extension offers for Cousins. However, there’s a suggestion that, for the first time in his career, Cousins may be open to a contract without fully guaranteed money.