Why are the Minnesota Vikings trying to sign Kirk Cousins?

Some are questioning why the Minnesota Vikings would even attempt to land the free-agent quarterback this offseason.

Arguments can be made against it, but the single most important position in the sport of football is quarterback. Rarely do teams achieve championship glory without solid play from under center.

There’s a reason why 10 of the last 11 NFL MVPs and 8 of the last 11 Super Bowl MVPs have been quarterbacks.

The Minnesota Vikings are currently in the middle of their quest to figure out who their starting signal caller will be for the 2018 season. A move that could decide the fate of the franchise for the next few years.

Based on the most recent reports and rumors, it appears that the Vikings are going to make a serious run at signing free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason.

Landing Cousins is not going to be cheap by any means (estimated market value of more than $25 million per year), but Minnesota has the money and they clearly believe he is worth spending it on.

Why would the Vikings want to spend such a high amount of cash on one player though? Why wouldn’t they just re-sign one of their 2017 quarterbacks for a cheaper price and save some money?

Remember that statistic from earlier about 10 of the last 11 MVPs? Yeah, that’s exactly why.

The Vikings know that their chances at capturing the franchise’s first ever Super Bowl win would immediately increase if they signed Cousins this year. Like it or not, the free-agent would be an upgrade over any of the three quarterbacks that took a snap for Minnesota in 2017.

Sure, Case Keenum had a magical year last season. But it was the first time in Keenum’s six-year NFL career that he performed at such a high level.

Who really believes that he can play like that again in 2018, especially with Pat Shurmur no longer being the Vikings’ offensive coordinator?

Minnesota Vikings

Yes, Teddy Bridgewater is still only 25-years-old and has plenty of time to evolve into one of the league’s top quarterbacks. But does he?

Bridgewater is coming off a near, catastrophic knee injury that requires him to now wear a gigantic brace around his left leg (which might as well be a target for opposing defenders). He also has not started a game in two whole seasons.

Believe it or not, Minnesota re-signing Bridgewater would be a bigger risk than the team landing Cousins.

Then there is Sam Bradford, the quarterback whose most recent head coach referred to his ailing knees as, “degenerative.” Not exactly a ringing endorsement to be the Vikings’ starter in 2018.

So these are the choices Minnesota has this offseason. The Vikings want to win a Super Bowl soon and they clearly believe that Cousins is their best option to at least increase the chance of this happening.

Next: Realistic free-agent options for the Vikings' offense in 2018

Why is this so hard to understand?