PFF Makes Contract Projections For Vikings' Top Two Pending Free Agents
Two of the Vikings' best players — quarterback Kirk Cousins and outside linebacker Danielle Hunter — are set to hit free agency this spring. Is there a chance one or both return to Minnesota? To answer that question, it's important to have a sense of how much money each player will command on the open market.
Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus recently published his ranking of the top 50 free agents in 2024 and came up with contract projections for each one. Here's what he has for the two Vikings:
No. 2: Kirk Cousins
An ill-timed torn Achilles derailed another strong season from Cousins, and he looked set to have a host of suitors in free agency, as he did back in 2018. Cousins still has the requisite arm strength to throw to all levels of the field and has been as accurate as ever in recent seasons.
Top free agent comparison: Philip Rivers, 2020
Contract Projection: Two years, $60 million ($30 million per year), $37.5 million total guaranteed
Cousins' free agency outlook is complicated a bit by the fact that he'll be coming off the first major injury of his career ahead of his age-36 season, but at least in theory, his torn Achilles shouldn't affect his ability to play at a high level in 2024. Before going down this year, he was playing arguably the best football of his life.
I've generally been a proponent of the Vikings moving on from Cousins after this season and drafting their quarterback of the future in the first round. But two years and $60 million for Cousins might be awfully tempting for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell if that is indeed the number. I could see them talking themselves into running it back with Cousins, especially if Brian Flores sticks around next year. Plus you could do that and still draft a QB in the first round anyways.
No. 12: Danielle Hunter
Hunter has been a revelation in new defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy scheme, though he was just as productive in 2022. Teams that run a 3-4 or 4-3 could probably find a way to effectively deploy Hunter, and injury concerns of a few years ago seem like distant memories. He is on pace for another season with 900-plus snaps, 70-plus quarterback pressures and double-digit sacks.
Top free agent comparison: Jason Pierre-Paul, 2017
Contract Projection: Three years, $65 million ($21.67 million per year), $40 million total guaranteed
Hunter has been phenomenal this season under Flores, piling up 13.5 sacks in 13 games while also setting strong edges against the run. His 18 total tackles for loss are second-most in the league. He looks as sharp as ever at age 29 and is the type of player the Vikings should seriously consider trying to keep long-term.
This deal — three years, $65M — might be affordable enough. The Vikings have to focus on upcoming extensions for Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw, but there are ways to work the salary cap to fit both Cousins and Hunter around if they want to do so. The more likely outcome, however, is that one or neither return.
Other pending Vikings FAs who didn't make this top 50 list include Jordan Hicks, Marcus Davenport, D.J. Wonnum, K.J. Osborn, and Dalton Risner.
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