MINNEAPOLIS – A month after Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer publicly supported Kirk Cousins, calling the defender “our guy” amid rumors and speculation about whether he could be traded in this off-season, Minnesota’s general manager, Rick Spielman, doubled his support for QB on Wednesday.
“I think that coach [Zimmer] put that to bed when he spoke after the season, “Spielman told reporters.” Kirk Cousins is our defender. I know there are a lot of rumors going around, but Kirk Cousins is our quarterback. We feel that he played very well, probably the best he ever played, in that stretch last year.
“Kirk is our quarterback going forward, and I’m looking forward to him [having] another year on this system. I am excited for him and for what he will bring to our team next year. “
With the potential for so much defender movement in this off-season, Cousins’ name was inserted into the conversation as a player who could end up starting a new team in 2021. Given that Cousins no longer has a no-trade clause in your contract, getting out of it in this off-season is more viable if Minnesota wants to exercise that option.
After signing a record three-year contract and $ 84 million fully guaranteed as a free agent in 2018, Cousins signed a two-year, $ 66 million extension last March, which earned him a base salary of $ 21 million in 2021. His base salary of $ 35 million for 2022 becomes fully guaranteed if he is on the list on the third day of the 2021 league year, which starts on March 17.
Even with Spielman pouring water into any commercial speculation, the Vikings could find themselves in a position to start thinking about life after Cousins, if the team chose to stop being the quarterback after the end of their contract in 2022. With three choices within the top 92 in April’s recruiting for the NFL, selecting a quarterback to eventually take over from Cousins, may be part of Minnesota’s succession plan for the position.
But after Cousins scored 35 touchdowns, the record for his career in 2020, Spielman is not paying much attention to the public in quitting being the quarterback, considering how many quality seasons he thinks Cousins still has.
“I never want to force a quarterback when there is no quarterback to attack, because that is when you make mistakes,” said Spielman. “I don’t know the best term to use without putting you in quotes. … Regardless [of position], follow the philosophy of the best player available where you are choosing. Or if there is a guy you covet who is still around, being aggressive enough to go up and catch that player, regardless of position.
“I still think Kirk is at the peak of his career, at 32 years old. And he still has a lot of quality football. But we will always look at the different options and if there is anything in the draft like We will.”