5 paths the Vikings can take with Kirk Cousins this offseason
By Dean Jones
Minnesota Vikings star quarterback Kirk Cousins earned a spot in the Pro Bowl this year, but there is still plenty of uncertainty going forward relating to his future.
Kirk Cousins is heading into the final year of his contract with the Minnesota Vikings, which raises a series of questions about whether or not the much-maligned figure will be with the franchise long term.
There are a wealth of options available for Vikings general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer to explore regarding Cousins, who enjoyed an impressive year despite his obvious limitations.
This included the quarterback finally gaining an elusive playoff victory in dramatic fashion against the New Orleans Saints, before ultimately falling significantly short against the Super Bowl-bound San Francisco 49ers.
After being called out publicly by Minnesota’s star wide receiver duo, Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, Cousins was exceptional on his way to throwing or 3,603 yards and completing 69.1 percent of his passes.
The veteran quarterback emerged as a locker room leader in 2019, albeit by example, which seemed to motivate even the most senior member of the Vikings’ roster and his influence was further highlighted with 26 touchdown passes and just six interceptions.
Cousins ranked 13th in the NFL this season with a total QBR of 58.4, which was middle of the pack and can be attributed to his indifferent displays throughout the early stages of the year, something that came on considerably during the second half of the campaign.
His performance in 2019 leaves Minnesota with another huge decision during what is set to be a pivotal offseason for their long and short-term ambitions.
So what are the potential paths available to the Vikings to take regarding their quarterback this offseason?