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The possibility was mentioned last night in an item about the 49ers’ apparent willingness to leave quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The question deserves its own synopsis.
Would Vikings negotiate quarterback Kirk Cousins?
Its extension to 2020 removed the non-trade clause, allowing Vikings to move cousins without their consent. (As a practical matter, however, which NFL team would trade for a quarterback who doesn’t want to be there?) Your contract pays $ 56 million over the next two years. Most importantly, a colossal base salary of $ 35 million for 2022 will be fully guaranteed on March 19.
On the one hand, Vikings are more likely to be relevant in 2021 with Cousins, who spent three seasons with the team. Unless Minnesota decides to make a move for Deshaun Watson (it probably wouldn’t be a great idea for the Vikings to make a blockbuster exchange with an NFL team located in Texas), there is no clear update that would make Minnesota a Super Bowl contender. immediately . Most of the options available would not make the Vikings a candidate for the playoffs, at least not in their first season.
And if the Vikings are not a candidate for the playoffs in 2021, a house cleaning can happen.
Of course, if the property could be sold based on the idea that getting rid of Cousins, saving $ 56 million and stepping back would eventually lead to several steps forward, perhaps 2021 would become a scholarship year. Still, what would be the strategy for taking several steps forward?
A local popular movement would involve bringing Teddy Bridgewater back to the Panthers for Minnesota. Many fans would like this change. These fans would also feel very different if / when the Vikings regressed offensively in 2021.
Before the issue becomes relevant, someone would have to want to switch to Cousins. If 49ers or someone else makes the call, the dilemma for the Vikings will be to invest $ 56 million for another two years with Cousins, or move on to a vague Plan B that could result in the Vikings becoming an eternal Team D at NFC North.