Vikings Stand Firm on Kirk Cousins Contract Talks!

The Minnesota Vikings are keen on retaining Kirk Cousins for the upcoming season, but they’re adhering to very specific terms, according to recent reports.

Darren Wolfson of KSTP revealed on February 22 that the team remains steadfast in its stance against offering Cousins a fully-guaranteed three-year contract.

“I continue to believe the Vikings are not guaranteeing anything in 2026, so if that’s the sticking point Kirk Cousins is landing elsewhere,” Wolfson stated, as per SKOR North.

This sentiment echoes the reporting of national NFL writer Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated from three days earlier, who highlighted the Vikings’ reluctance to commit to a fully guaranteed deal akin to previous agreements under different management.

The current Vikings leadership, led by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell, orchestrated a one-year extension worth $35 million for Cousins for the 2023 season ahead of the 2022 campaign, reflecting a cautious approach to long-term commitments.

Cousins, who will be 36 years old ahead of the 2024 season, had been enjoying a strong performance in O’Connell’s offensive system last season before sustaining an Achilles tear in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers. Despite his injury, he led the NFL with 18 passing touchdowns at the time.

If negotiations with Cousins don’t yield a satisfactory outcome and he departs via free agency, the Vikings have multiple avenues to explore. They hold the No. 11 pick in the 2024 NFL draft and could potentially trade up to select a promising quarterback like Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye. Alternatively, they might opt for a veteran quarterback like Sam Darnold of the San Francisco 49ers to provide a short-term buffer for a rookie signal-caller. Another possibility could involve pursuing a multiyear deal with quarterbacks such as Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who boasts playoff experience and recently had a career year surpassing 4,000 yards passing for the first time.