The Minnesota Vikings had one of the most disappointing seasons of any NFL team this past season, finishing just 8-9 despite a very talented offense with star receiver Justin Jefferson and star running back Dalvin Cook.
This led to a number of changes for the team, firing both their general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer. They were replaced with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell.
This next season will be a big one for the Vikings and starting quarterback Kirk Cousins. Cousins is in the final year of his deal, and is owed $35 million in base salary.
The big contract may lead many to believe that the Vikings may be on the verge of getting rid of Cousins. However, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that for at least this year, Cousins will be their guy.
From NFL Now: It doesn't appear that #Vikings QB Kirk Cousins is going anywhere in 2022. pic.twitter.com/LU1eBxN3tx
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 17, 2022
“It seems like the hire of Kevin O’Connell was very good news for Kirk Cousins,” Rapoport said.
Rapoport’s report that the Vikings look set to stand pat with Cousins led to a lot of reactions from around the NFL world. Here are some of those:
Said this on @Purple_Insider – the only team I think is even possibly desperate enough to trade for Cousins would be Carolina, and they'd still need help making the deal. https://t.co/zxSUZWeBLr
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) February 17, 2022
Kirk Cousins appears to be off the market as well #Browns https://t.co/eRpADLgeo0
— MoreForYouCleveland (@MoreForYou_CLE) February 17, 2022
https://twitter.com/VikingAfterDark/status/1494393674628665351
Cousins was in Washington where O’Connell was a quarterbacks coach for the team in 2017, so there is definitely some familiarity there. But his future past this next season will most likely depend on the success that the Vikings and Cousins have next year.
Cousins was certainly not the only issue for the Vikings this past season, throwing for 4,221 yards with 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. But he is 33 years old, so it seems like a long-term contract would be out of the question right now. Still, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Cousins get a 1 or 2-year extension if he plays well next year.
