Kirk Cousins Has Signed With Atlanta
Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
How do “You Like That?” After a six-year partnership, Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings split became reality on Monday. After much speculation whether the 35-year-old would quarterback would return coming off an ACL injury that interrupted his season, Cousins agreed to terms with the Atlanta Falcons for a four-year contract.
Cousins – no stranger to lucrative contracts – broke the bank again with Atlanta, earning $100 million guaranteed on a contract worth up to $180 million. Cousins was able to put up numbers in Minnesota, posting 4,000-yard seasons in four of his five full seasons alongside a supporting cast of star wide receivers Stefon Diggs, A.J. Thelen, Jordan Addison, and of course, Justin Jefferson. Those numbers command that level of pay.
Still, the Vikings often struggled to field a competitive team around Cousins and his weighty cap hit. The Cousins Era in Minnesota saw the Vikings compile a 50-37-1 record with just two playoff appearances. Cousins had a 1-2 record in postseason games, with the lone win coming from the “Minneapolis Miracle” in the 2019 Wild Card round against the New Orleans Saints.
With Cousins out of the picture, the Vikings are able to re-focus their team around depth they previously couldn’t afford with a heavy cap hit at quarterback. Unfortunately, one of those spots they’ll need to fill is at quarterback. Minnesota doesn’t have a Jordan Love ready to step into the role of their Aaron Rodgers, and will need to find one in free agency or the draft.
It’s a step into the unknown, but that should be exciting for Vikings fans. It should be clear after six years that the Cousins Era wasn’t going to work out – not for a franchise and fanbase desperate to get their first Super Bowl. Moving on means possibly finding a formula that works in Minnesota, which means it’s worth doing for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
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