Closing the Case for Kirk: Why the Vikings chose Cousins over Keenum

The Minnesota Vikings 2018 starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, was chosen to lead the team over who is now the Broncos’ starting signal-caller, Case Keenum.  Here’s a good argument why that decision was made. 

Case Keenum played remarkably well for the Vikings in 2017 after being thrust into action after Sam Bradford’s early-season knee injury.  For the undrafted journeyman, it became his career opportunity. It may have been Keenum’s first year with a new playbook and new teammates, yet this was a professional reality in which he had some experience.   Keenum’s battle-testing in this regard had come through rather precarious and wholly unsuccessful seasons in Houston, St. Louis, and Los Angeles.

Any quarterback whose team finishes the regular season 13-3 should be in the running to be considered a qualified keeper, but because Keenum had such a checkered past, the jury seemed to remain out in respect to ultimate front office disposition.  His numbers for 2017 were superlative, there were games where his play clearly astonished career naysayers, and a Pro Bowl nod was even expected by some. Still, during the season Mike Zimmer was tight-lipped about praise for Keenum. He awarded credit to the journeyman after winning box-scores, but little sunshine was dispensed about his abilities or future.

Why the chilly shoulder, some asked?  It was a good question. Here are some answers.

There was the Redskin game.  Week 10. At this point, Keenum was 5-2 as a starter.  Up 35-17 with 12 minutes left in the third quarter, Keenum threw two awful interceptions to safety D.J Swearinger and made it a contest that shouldn’t have been.  One a floater off his back heel and the second a near pick-six where he was easily baited. The Vikings held on to win, but the film was in the books.

More questionable tape for Keenum’s file became the Panther game in week 14.  Teddy Bridgewater had returned to the practice field, but Zimmer did not consider changing horses in midstream.  The Vikings had won eight in a row and a win in Carolina would have salted home field advantage for the Vikings throughout the NFC playoffs.  Unfortunately, though Keenum showed mettle and played adequately, he also committed crucial turnovers that contributed to the loss.

Mike Zimmer, like a man who had suffered amnesia and somehow found an idyllic life, was having a few nightmares.