Retirement wishes of Kirk Cousins could ruin the Vikings future

Kirk Cousins has recently stated he’d like to retire with the Minnesota Vikings, but in doing so, could put the team’s future in jeopardy.

After signing a one-year extension with the Minnesota Vikings earlier this offseason, Kirk Cousins recently stated that he would like to retire with the team that helped him make history in 2018 when he became the first quarterback to ever sign a multi-year, fully-guaranteed contract.

Since joining the Vikings, Cousins has made two pro bowls, he’s had three seasons with at least 4000 passing yards, but it has only resulted in a playoff record of 1-1, with the team’s only postseason berth coming in the 2019 campaign.

Further, throughout Cousins’ tenure, he has watched both his team’s head coach, Mike Zimmer, and general manager, Rick Spielman, get shown the door. But he has been kept around under the new regime of Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi-Adofo Mensah.

The former Michigan State quarterback understands the scenario of a new regime, and he has added that he has to “earn the right” to retire in the Twin Cities.

If Kirk Cousins gets his wish to retire with the Minnesota Vikings, the ramifications could create a less than favorable ripple effect

If Cousins does indeed get to retire a Viking, the elephant in the room would be that the past regime of Spielman & Co. wasted a pick on quarterback Kellen Mond last year, and Mond’s already slim shot of being the heir apparent to Cousins would fade quickly.

Additionally, Minnesota may find themselves too content with Cousins and elect not to draft another potential heir apparent in what is expected to be a stacked 2023 quarterback class. They could potentially miss out on prospects such as Fresno State’s Jake Haener and Alabama’s Bryce Young.

Cousins retiring as a Viking isn’t the worst-case scenario, however, as he has added stability to the quarterback position in comparison to the franchise’s history with draft busts or one-hit-wonder years from journeyman signal-callers.

But with his best season in Minnesota still only producing a 10-6 record, the marriage to mediocrity could continue for the franchise if they intend to help Cousins retire in purple.