Minnesota’s plan for Cousins
If Kirk Cousins makes it to the 2023 offseason without a contract extension from the Vikings before then, it will be a clear indication that Minnesota is ready to move on from him.
We will probably know how the Vikings feel about Cousins following the 2021 campaign. He will likely have to have one of the best seasons of his career while also leading Minnesota to one of the top seeds in the NFC playoff bracket in order to extend his time in the Twin Cities past 2023.
Judging by Cousins’ tenure with the Vikings so far, he likely won’t be making the necessary steps to perform at an MVP level in 2021. This isn’t to say he hasn’t played well during his time in Minnesota. But the Vikings might just decide they’re better off spending their cash elsewhere in 2023 when his contract runs out.
We might even find out what Minnesota’s future plans are for Cousins as early as next year’s NFL Draft. If the Vikings decide to use an early-round draft selection on a young quarterback in 2021, then pursuing someone like Teddy Bridgewater in 2022 or 2023 seems unlikely.
Perhaps Minnesota could look to bring in Bridgewater as a backup for their new young passer. But since he’ll only be 30-years-old when his current contract runs out with the Panthers, the former Vikings quarterback will probably still be looking to at least compete for a starting job somewhere in 2023.