The biggest domino of the quarterback free agent market appears all but settled. Kirk Cousins is visiting the Minnesota Vikings this week, and multiple reports expect him to sign with the NFC North contender. The Vikings are expected to offer him a three year contract worth $28 million per year, according to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport.
The move would end what has been a nearly three year journey for Cousins through two franchise tag situations, and then uncertainty heading into this offseason. A year ago, many of us thought the San Francisco 49ers would be in the mix for Cousins given Kyle Shanahan’s history with him. Instead, Shanahan will get to face him on the road a second straight season. The 49ers schedule will be released in April, but we know the team will face Minnesota on the road.
The Vikings came one game away from the Super Bowl this past season with Case Keenum starting at quarterback. Cousins is an upgrade at the position, although there remain questions. He has put up good numbers, but it’s hard to tell if that means he’s a franchise quarterback, or the step below that. But given what the Vikings were able to do with Keenum, this might tell us a lot about him versus Cousins.