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Kirk Cousins’ time with the Minnesota Vikings has largely been disappointing. They signed him after the 2017 season to assist push a workforce that misplaced within the convention championship recreation to the Tremendous Bowl. The 2023 season is Cousins’ sixth with the Vikings. They’ve gained just one playoff recreation in two appearances.
His general passing numbers have been good, however the Vikings have been a middle-of-the-pack workforce since his arrival — aside from last-season’s rash of one-score victories. This season appeared headed for a typical Vikings’ end during which their document hovers round .500, however Cousins’ will seemingly not take the sphere once more in 2023, following a 24-10 win in opposition to the Green Bay Packers.
He suffered a dreaded non-contact damage to his Achilles. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that Cousins’ Achilles damage is believed to be a rupture. He’ll endure an MRI on Monday to verify the extent of the damage. The one begins that Cousins has ever missed have been attributable to COVID in 2021, and he was rested the ultimate recreation of the 2019 season.
The Vikings’ Week 8 victory strikes their document to 4-4 on the season, and they’re at the moment holding onto the final playoff spot within the NFC. Their backup is 25-year-old rookie Jaren Corridor, a fifth-round choose within the 2023 NFL Draft.
With the Tuesday commerce deadline quick approaching, the Vikings now don’t have any straightforward solutions on the right way to strategy it. All through this season, NFL analysts have urged {that a} commerce must be labored out for Cousins. He has a no-trade clause in his expiring contract, however the correct scenario ought to have been in a position to persuade him to waive it. The New York Jets would have been an ideal spot. He could be a one-year rental in the event that they anticipate to begin Aaron Rodgers in 2024.
A commerce for Cousins would have price the Jets numerous property for lower than a full-season of labor, however by including Cousins to their proficient roster as a substitute of trotting out Zach Wilson, they may have contended for a Tremendous Bowl. That transfer is now out of the query, if the Vikings have been even severely contemplating it. Additionally, as a deadline transfer, it might not have made the Vikings unhealthy sufficient for one of many high QBs within the 2024 NFL Draft.
They’re .500, with a remaining schedule that’s not that tough. Their subsequent two video games are on the highway in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons, and at residence in opposition to the New Orleans Saints. Each groups have proven expertise this season, however little consistency and been pressured to work round lower than ultimate performances at beginning quarterback.
The Vikings might cut up these two, and go away them with the Cincinnati Bengals and two matchups in opposition to the Detroit Lions as the one video games in opposition to playoff-caliber groups left on the schedule. They could not lose sufficient video games to have the ability to draft one of many high quarterback prospects within the 2024 NFL Draft.
In the event that they select to not signal Cousins to even a brief extension within the spring, they are going to be in peril of two misplaced seasons. Two seasons effectively underneath .500, and no probability at actually refreshing the quarterback place till 2025 — a a lot worse projected quarterback class.
Accidents are at all times unlucky and unpredictable, however the Vikings could have chalked up two seasons as a loss lengthy earlier than Cousins went down at Lambeau Subject. By not engaged on a deal to commerce Cousins’ expiring contract they left the workforce too aggressive for half of the season. Now their best choice is perhaps one other two years of Cousins at $30-plus million per, and see if they’ll lastly construct a roster round him that may be among the best within the league and not using a historic success in one-score video games.
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