The Vikings are a team tied to a big contract with quarterback. That didn’t stop some from speculating that Kirk Cousins was on the road off-season, though it should be noted that rumors of a Cousins trade have been dispelled.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin was tasked with making a bold prediction for the Vikings. Her choice? That the Vikings will be part of the quarterback carousel in Free Agency. This is what she wrote:
If Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers really want Kirk Cousins, now is the time for Minnesota to start a trade that will create freedom to reconstruct other parts of the squad. The Vikings could get out of the financial commitment they made to Cousins when he signed a two-year extension last March, which comes with a $ 31 million cap for 2021, and take a different direction on the position. If that comes in the form of Jimmy Garoppolo and a second round pick (they don’t currently have one), then the Vikings should take that opportunity. “
I’d like to preface this by saying that I think Cousins is one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. Also, the team’s decline in 2020 was largely not his fault. That said, I think if the Vikings could get out of Cousins long term, the future of the franchise would be brighter. Cousins is good, but he’s not one of the league’s elite quarterbacks. I always thought he could theoretically be good enough for Minnesota to make a deep playoff run and win a Super Bowl. But now I’m not so sure. It should keep the team looking for a quarterback no matter how long that takes.