Following the 2023 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings are not ruling out the possibility of signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a new contract in the future.
A few weeks ago, the Minnesota Vikings executed a cap conversion to the current contract of quarterback Kirk Cousins to help the team create some additional cap space this offseason.
The move was notable since the Vikings and Cousins' camp had met earlier this year to negotiate a possible extension for the veteran passer. No extension has clearly been agreed to, and Cousins is currently scheduled to become a free agent when the 2023 season comes to a close.
Even though Minnesota hasn't extended their veteran quarterback yet, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah revealed on Saturday that a new deal for Cousins in the future is still a possibility.
"Every option open" for Minnesota Vikings when it comes to the future of Kirk Cousins
Following the final round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday, Adofo-Mensah answered some questions from the local Twin Cities media about some of the moves the team made during this year's annual event.
Minnesota's general manager was asked whether the team is currently trying to decide if they want Cousins to be their starting quarterback beyond the 2023 season. Adofo-Mensah replied with the following answer.
"We like where we are at the quarterback position, but every option is open to us going forward. We’re just really excited about Kirk this year, the weapons we’ve added in free agency, the weapons we’ve added in the draft, and we’ll see what happens after that.”
On the final day of this year's NFL Draft, the Vikings decided to use a fifth-round pick on former BYU quarterback Jaren Hall. Even though Minnesota used a Day 3 selection on Hall, the choice has still added more fuel to the speculation about Cousins' possible departure from the franchise in 2024.
Based on what Adofo-Mensah said on Saturday, it seems like the Vikings are just going to wait and see how Cousins performs in 2023. If he is able to lead Minnesota to multiple playoff wins for the first time since 1987, then a new contract with the team certainly seems possible for the veteran signal-caller.
But if the Vikings continue to fall short of any real meaningful success with Cousins under center next season, then the team will likely let him walk out the door in 2024 and roll with a different starting quarterback, who, at the very least, will cost significantly less.