5 potential starting QB options for the Minnesota Vikings in 2023
By Dean Jones
Kirk Cousins
There was plenty of speculation linking Kirk Cousins with a potential trade away from the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. The last few weeks have seen an unprecedented period of quarterback movement across the league and the former Michigan State star was a name in the trade spotlight with just one year remaining on his deal.
The Carolina Panthers reportedly made a call regarding the availability of Cousins. This didn’t amount to anything concrete and the signal-caller ended up signing a new fully guaranteed deal that puts him under contract until 2024.
Even if the Vikings let Cousins go after that, a restructure ensures he’ll count $12.5 million and $6.5 million in 2024 and 2025 respectively in dead money. So Minnesota will be hoping their faith in the player is rewarded over the next two years.
Cousins performed well overall last season without quite doing enough to get his team back into the playoffs. It seems as if the Vikings will only get so far with the veteran, but his previous relationship with Kevin O’Connell could prove mutually beneficial if both parties hit the ground running.
If Cousins fails to meet certain targets in 2022, then the Vikings might end up cutting their losses and trading the player next season. However, the dead money will be extortionate and demand might not be all that high considering the quality of college prospects set to enter the league next year.