ESPN's Field Yates 'would not be stunned' if Cousins gets $50M-a-year fully guaranteed
The NFL world awaits Kirk Cousins' decision on his future and with free agency opening March 13, speculation is continuing to mount as to where he will go and how much he will be paid.
In a free agency primer ESPN's Field Yates says he "would not be stunned" if Cousins landed a "two-year, $100 million fully guaranteed contract."
There have been numerous reports already this offseason about the extent to which the Vikings are willing to go on a Cousins extension. ESPN's Dan Graziano reported over the weekend that, "Cousins has a very specific idea in mind for what he wants in a new contract and the Vikings so far have not made an offer that matches it."
Meanwhile Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported in February that the Vikings have "made clear that they’re not going to go contractually where the previous regime did twice, and give Cousins a fully guaranteed deal.”
"If the Vikings can't keep Cousins from reaching free agency, the king of the quarterback contract may be about to hit another moon shot," Yates continued. "Yeah, he's coming off a torn right Achilles. Yeah, he turns 36 in August. But he was leading the league in touchdown passes and second in passing yards through Week 7 (was injured in Week 8) and is the surest thing among the free agent quarterbacks this offseason."
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) talks with teammates prior to their game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit on Jan. 7, 2024.
Lon Horwedel / USA TODAY Sports
Cousins would indeed be the cream of the crop of free agent QBs with the likes of Tampa's Baker Mayfield and Tennessee's Ryan Tannehill presumably hitting the market as well. Former Super Bowl-winner Russell Wilson is also a free agent after being cut by the Broncos earlier in the week, but has shown significant signs of regression over the previous two seasons in Denver.
When looking at free agents set to break the bank this spring, Yates says there is "no need to overthink this one, as Cousins is going to cash in once again."
Yates notes a plethora of QB needy teams as the big reason that Cousins could once again cash-in despite his age (35) and his recent torn Achilles tendon – with the Atlanta Falcons expected to be top of the list.
Presumably at the numbers Yates suggests that would likely mean the Vikings are out of the Kirk race and will be looking at a new QB for the first time in six years.
