Has Rick Spielman’s free agency start boosted his contract hopes?
By Dean Jones
The Kirk Cousins extension
Rick Spielman and the Minnesota Vikings made a splash by agreeing to a contract extension with quarterback Kirk Cousins.
The much-maligned gunslinger enjoyed the best year of his career in 2019. He has been rewarded with a new deal reportedly worth $66 million, with $61 million of it being fully guaranteed.
This also saves the Vikings $10 million on their salary cap during the offseason. Cousins now has the long-term security he was craving and a ringing endorsement from the Vikings.
Spielman was the man who rubber-stamped Cousins’ three-year, $84 million deal to bring him from the Washington Redskins. After suffering his fair share of struggles during his first season, Cousins bounced back in fine style and led Minnesota back to the playoffs and a memorable wildcard win at the New Orleans Saints.
Despite this success, some sections of the Vikings’ fanbase are still unsure as to whether Cousins is able to take the organization to the promised land and to an elusive Super Bowl triumph. The quarterback gives the Vikings the best possible chance to succeed right now with a roster that is on the closing end of their current window.
The prospect of the Vikings without Cousins might seem attractive, but what is the better alternative? A rookie is going to take time to develop and a free agent is not guaranteed to bring more than the Vikings’ current option and will need to learn the playbook.