Vikings reportedly extend Kirk Cousins, deal includes no-trade clause

The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly decided to give quarterback Kirk Cousins a one-year extension that will keep him under contract until 2024.

After it seemed like there was a possibility of the Minnesota Vikings moving on from him this year, the team is apparently committing to quarterback Kirk Cousins for another two seasons.

According to NFL Media’s Tom Peliserro on Sunday, the Vikings have signed Cousins to a one-year, $35 million fully guaranteed contract extension. The deal also includes a no-trade clause, meaning Minnesota cannot deal the quarterback to another team before 2024 without his approval.

New Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has proclaimed multiple times that he’s excited to work with Cousins. Now, he will officially get that opportunity.

Minnesota Vikings significantly lower the 2022 cap hit of Kirk Cousins with extension

Any sort of extension Minnesota was going to give Cousins was likely going to lower his cap hit for 2022 and this new deal has certainly done just that.

The Vikings quarterback will now see his cap hit for next season reduced from $45 million to $31.4 million. The contract also includes two void years on the end of it to help Minnesota reduce Cousins’ cap hit for the 2022 campaign.

What this extension likely signifies is that the Vikings were unable to find a veteran quarterback that wasn’t going to cost them a ton of assets to acquire (see Deshaun Watson) and that they aren’t very impressed by the quarterback prospects available in the 2022 NFL Draft. So Minnesota clearly felt their best option for the 2022 season was to stick with Cousins.

And while the extension essentially guarantees Cousins will remain with the Vikings until 2024, unless he okays a trade to another team before then, Minnesota has still set themselves up to draft a top quarterback in 2023 and develop them to become their starter for the 2024 season if they want to move on from Cousins.

With the quarterback now locked down for at least two more years, will O’Connell figure out a way to help Cousins lead the Vikings back to the playoffs?