Kirk Cousins could cost the Vikings more than $40 million per season

If Kirk Cousins signs an extension with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023, it could potentially end up paying him more than $40 million per season.

Deciding whether or not to give quarterback Kirk Cousins an extension is easily one of the biggest decisions the Minnesota Vikings have to make during the 2023 offseason.

It sounds like the Vikings are open to extending Cousins’ contract past the 2023 campaign, but the team also doesn’t want to damage their plans for the future by paying the veteran quarterback an extremely large amount of money.

The New York Giants and quarterback Daniel Jones are currently in the middle of negotiating a new contract, and the terms of this deal could have a significant impact on what Minnesota ends up doing with Cousins this offseason.

Is $40 million too much for the Minnesota Vikings to pay Kirk Cousins per season?

On Friday, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reported that “there has been progress” between Jones and the Giants in their recent negotiations about a new contract for the young quarterback. Raanan also added that the annual salary in this potential new deal for Jones could be worth at least $40 million.

If Jones and New York agree to a new contract that pays him at least $40 million per season, the Vikings could have a problem on their hands when it comes to their negotiations with Cousins.

It’s easy to believe that Cousins would want an extension that would pay him the same annual amount or more than what Jones could be getting in a new deal with the Giants.

If Cousins wants to sign a one-year extension, then Minnesota might be okay with increasing his average salary for 2023 and 2024. But extending the veteran quarterback beyond the 2024 season if he wants to be paid more than $40 million per year might be where the Vikings draw the line.

Minnesota shouldn’t give Cousins an excessive amount of money just because it matches what other quarterbacks have been receiving lately. The Vikings need to do what is best for the future of their team, and giving Cousins a multi-year extension worth more than $40 million per season is something that could potentially prevent them from reaching their ultimate goals.