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Carmen Vitali
NFC North Reporter
For as much has been made of this year’s quarterback draft class, the free-agent class could be just as intriguing.
Even with the Denver Broncos releasing Russell Wilson and Baker Mayfield waiting for a new deal, Kirk Cousins headlines this year’s class. He is the first domino that needs to fall before all the others, even the rookies.
Cousins falling back into familiar territory in Minnesota seems less and less likely the closer we get to free agency. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke candidly to Rich Eisen on NFL Network during the combine about where things stood with Cousins.
“The combine just gave everybody else an opportunity, whether they’re supposed to be or not, to maybe have some conversations,” O’Connell said. “But I’ve been having the dialogue that you have with a player like Kirk Cousins; the relationship we’ve built up over a long period of time. I know Kirk, where he’s at in this whole process. He’s earned the right to be a free agent.”
Becoming a free agent puts the writing on the wall for Cousins’ tenure with the Vikings in more than one way. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will likely give Cousins a best-and-final offer prior to the March 13 opening of free agency. If Cousins doesn’t take it, it’s likely because he and agent Mike McCartney think they can get more guaranteed money elsewhere.
Remember that Cousins is coming off two straight fully guaranteed contracts with the Vikings. O’Connell himself said he’s expecting multiple suitors for Cousins, even coming off what’s widely regarded as a career-inhibiting injury in an Achilles tear at the age of 35.
The Atlanta Falcons have been strongly linked to Cousins and those whispers only got louder in Indianapolis. The Raiders, Broncos, Steelers and Patriots are all in need of a quarterback —and all likely to have interest in Cousins. That’s not counting teams like the Chicago Bears and Washington…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/kirk-cousins-has-options-and-the-vikings-need-a-quarterback-succession-plan
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Publish date : 2024-03-05 20:08:32
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