5 paths the Vikings can take with Kirk Cousins this offseason
By Dean Jones
Look elsewhere
Minnesota targeting a quarterback in this spring’s free agency pool seems highly unlikely, especially given the holes that need filling elsewhere and the lack of money available to tempt high-profile recruits.
The 2021 class of free-agent quarterbacks is set to have plenty of talent. Don’t expect Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson to be among those available though as their teams will either pick up their fifth-year options or come to terms on a new deal before next year’s offseason.
Lower down the pecking order you have Cam Newton, who has had problems with injury and could even be released by the Carolina Panthers this summer if he does not fit in with new head coach Matt Rhule’s plans.
After that you have Mitchell Trubisky, who has been up and down in his career, to put it mildly, Andy Dalton may be a free agent as soon as this year if he is released by the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacoby Brissett, who was mediocre in his first season replacing Andrew Luck with the Indianapolis Colts, is set to hit free agency in 2021 as well.
There seems to be very little at the top of the experience bracket that one could say matches Kirk Cousins’ productivity outside of unrealistic targets such as Mahomes and Watson. Any signing would merely be a stop-gap while the Vikings try and find a long-term solution if they decide to depart with their current quarterback.