Is Jordan Love now out of the Vikings’ reach after the 2020 Combine?
By Dean Jones
Minnesota’s current quarterback situation
The Vikings may not have a priority at quarterback heading into this offseason, but much will depend on the play of Kirk Cousins during the final year of his deal.
The much-maligned quarterback took a huge step forward during 2019 in Kevin Stefanski’s offensive scheme, which also saw Cousins secure his first-ever playoff win in another memorable matchup with the New Orleans Saints.
His deficiencies came front and center once again though against a formidable San Francisco 49ers defense in Minnesota’s second-round playoff contest. So there are still plenty of questions regarding Cousins and his ability to get the Vikings over the hump and to a Super Bowl.
This is the final year of his fully guaranteed, $84 million deal, in which he counts $31.3 million against Minnesota’s 2020 salary cap. There has been no indication yet that he is going to get an extension in the near future, so he might have to prove his worth next season to stick around with the Vikings.
Cousins has all the tools around him to succeed. He has arguably the best wide receiver duo in the NFL in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, a premier running back in Dalvin Cook, and two potentially prolific tight ends in Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr.
With some tweaks to the offensive line, the sky is the limit for this offense. What Cousins does with the weapons available to him in Gary Kubiak’s offense once competitive action gets back underway will shape his future.