I like that!

It's been rumored for weeks that the Minnesota Vikings' franchise quarterback would be moving on. 

It became official on Monday. 

The Atlanta Falcons have finally solved their franchise quarterback issues.

The club agreed to terms on a four-year deal with former Minnesota Vikings free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins on Monday, according to his agent, Mike McCartney.

A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Cousins' deal is worth $180 million ($45 million per season), including $100 million guaranteed.

As I write this, only the Vikings' GM has made an official team statement. 

 

"After significant and positive dialogue with Kirk and his representatives, we were unable to reach agreement on a contract that fits the short- and long-term visions for both Kirk and the Minnesota Vikings," Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in a statement. "Kirk holds a special place in Vikings history, and we appreciate his leadership and contributions to the team and the Minneapolis-St. Paul community over the past six seasons. We wish him; his wife, Julie; and their children all the best. Our approach heading into free agency always included layers of contingencies regarding the quarterback position. We are moving forward with plans that allow us to continue building a roster that can compete for a championship."

In six years as Vikings QB, Cousins was an elite quarterback in terms of earning power, raking in $185 million in his time with Minnesota. And while he put up some impressive numbers in his Vikes career, it felt like empty calories as he led the team to only two playoff appearances, winning one game. Of course the staunch Cousins defenders (the loudest ones being on Twitter "X") will tell us that Kirk never had a full supporting cast in all that time and thus if he had better pass protection or a solid defense, the Vikings would have definitely made deeper playoff runs. What these people seem to forget is Cousins took the reins of a team which the previous season made a run to the NFC title game with journeyman QB Case Keenum at the helm. Essentially Cousins was brought in to be a mercenary since the team already had the top ranked defense in the NFL. And while the Vikes' D finished #5 overall in Cousins' first season, the team finished a lackluster 8-7-1 while missing the postseason altogether. In the subsequent three seasons, the Vikes compiled a record of 25-24, ultimately costing coach Mike Zimmer (who was rumored to have adamantly opposed the Cousins signing from day one) and GM Rick Spielman their jobs. 

It was apparent that current Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell unlocked something in Cousins when he took over in 2022. While Cousins didn't have his best season in '22 in terms of yardage and touchdown passes, he led the NFL with eight 4th quarter comebacks. This was something that dogged Cousins in his time with the Washington Redskins and first four seasons with the Vikings, which was he put up impressive stats but rarely when it mattered most. Unfortunately for Cousins and the Vikes, they had the second worst defense in the NFL, thus resulting in a "one and done" in the playoffs. Once again the Cousins stans proclaimed how the loss wasn't Kirk's fault in that he had a phenomenal performance against the Giants in that postseason contest, but was undermined by a horrendous defense. And therein lies the rub. The Vikings desperately needed reinforcements on the defensive side of the ball but were hamstrung due to Cousins' large salary cap figure. The idea that the Vikings organization was going to devote $100+ million to a 36-year old QB coming off a torn Achilles tendon just four months earlier was a stretch. 

In the end, I am fully on board with the Vikings taking a step back in an effort to reshape their roster (signing three free agents for their defense is a great start) while they identify a franchise QB. After all, that's the main reason O'Connell was hired as head coach given his reputation as a "quarterback whisperer." He will have significant input as to whom the Vikings will select in next month's draft (assuming QB is a top priority). Will they stand pat at the 11th overall pick or attempt to move into the top five to draft one of the blue chip prospects? And if indeed they identify a franchise QB, who will they have as their signal caller next year while the rookie gets acclimated to the NFL game? 

This is perhaps the most consequential offseason the Vikings have had since the Wilf family bought the team nearly twenty years ago. Make it count, Kwesi et al.

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