3 reasons why Kirk Cousins could be the NFL MVP in 2020

Playing at an MVP level wouldn’t be a huge jump

Kirk Cousins having the skills to play quarterback has never really been a question since he became a full-time starter in 2015. As a starter for the five seasons, Cousins has averaged over 4,200 passing yards and 27 touchdowns while completing 68.1 percent of his passes and having a rating of 99.6.

Of the quarterbacks who have attempted at least 1,500 passes since 2015, Cousins’ rating ranks fourth behind Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, and Drew Brees. Oh, and it’s better than some guy named Aaron Rodgers.

Despite ranking among the NFL’s best in a variety of different categories during the last few years, Cousins’ numbers will probably need a bit of a boost in 2020 if he’s going to end up as the NFL MVP.

Four of the last five quarterbacks to win the award finished their season with at least 35 passing touchdowns, something the current Vikings signal-caller has never done. 30 touchdowns are the most Cousins has ever thrown in a single season and he did this during his first year with Minnesota in 2018.

Three of the last five quarterbacks to win the NFL MVP also finished with at least 4,500 passing yards. Cousins has only achieved this mark once in his career (2016), otherwise, he typically throws for an average of 4,200 yards per year.

Are these numbers out of reach for the Minnesota quarterback? Absolutely not, but in order for him to actually receive serious MVP consideration, he will probably have to throw for at least 35 touchdowns and 4,500 yards in 2020.

To achieve these numbers, he’ll have to average about 25 more passing yards and at least two touchdowns per game next season. Cousins will also need to throw three scores or more in at least three of his games to finish with 35 passing touchdowns in 2020.

Basically, he needs to continue performing like he has during his last two seasons with the Vikings and kick it up just a notch to join the MVP consideration. Will another year in the same offense result in Cousins having the season of his life and winning as the league’s most valuable player award?