5 players a new Vikings regime could get rid of in 2022
By Adam Carlson
Kirk Cousins, quarterback
Quarterback might be the most important position in sports, but the issues surrounding Kirk Cousins make his future with the team one of the most interesting and complicated for any general manager to navigate.
Cousins is a good quarterback. He is consistently among the top passers in the league in most statistical categories and has a strong, accurate arm that can push the ball down the field when needed.
Depending on the type of offense the Vikings want to install and how they view Cousins’ long-term situation with the team, they may attempt to find a way to part ways with him instead of building around him.
Kirk has a cap hit of $45M this season after his money was continually kicked to the end of his contract to allow the team to sign other players. Now, Minnesota is on the hook for the entire amount unless they can find a way to trade him to a quarterback-needy team.
Otherwise, Cousins will likely get a contract extension that spreads his owed money out more evenly without making it top-heavy. But if the new GM and head coach don’t see Kirk as their guy going forward, Kirk may have taken his last snap for the team.