Dan Patrick: Vikings got 'D- results' from Kirk Cousins

"He is a B, B+ talent, A+ money and D- results when it comes to playing in big games and getting into the playoffs."

Author:
Jonathan Harrison
Publish date:
Mar 13, 2024 9:29 AM EDT

The Falcons may have won the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes but Dan Patrick says the Vikings made the "better decision" by not offering another mega deal.

Cousins inked a four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons Monday that features $100 million guaranteed for the 35-year-old quarterback coming off a season-ending Achilles injury. It's the latest in a history of big deals for the veteran QB who has made over $281 million in his career, according to Over The Cap.

"I think the Vikings may have made the better decision," said Patrick. "You're getting Kirk Cousins, he is a B, B+ talent, A+ money and D- results when it comes to playing in big games and getting into the playoffs. He's won one playoff game."

Cousins went 50-37-1 in six years as the Vikings starter, making the playoffs just two times (going 1-2 in three postseason games).

"Brilliant business guy, or his agent is," continued Patrick. "But you're getting a guy who is 35, coming off Achilles surgery. OK, you can win the NFC South... This is what comes up, 'Man, Kirk Cousins with all those weapons in Atlanta.' Well he had all those weapons in Minnesota, too. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison. He had a good running game."

With Cousins leaving Minnesota for Atlanta the Vikings signed former 49ers QB Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million deal Tuesday morning, and all eyes are on the Vikings as a team that could take a quarterback early in the NFL Draft.

"Well the Vikings are going to draft a quarterback. Now there's two quarterbacks, I'm told, that they like: Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy," said Patrick. "I don't think J.J. McCarthy is going to be available. But I get the feeling that Drake Maye is slipping and if the Patriots aren't going to take him then maybe there's an opportunity for the Vikings that they get their quarterback. But it's a quarterback in waiting because now we're starting to hear the evaluators says 'Drake Maye is not ready to start.'"