Can Kirk Cousins Be Franchised Again
Vikings
In Hindsight, Washington Had the Best Approach With Kirk Cousins
Photograph Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn (U.s.a. TODAY Sports)
There may non exist a more than polarizing quarterback in the NFL than Kirk Cousins. Nevertheless, enough of fans would easily accept him as their indicate-caller if their favorite team didn't sign him for 5 years of guaranteed money.
I detest to requite the Washington Commanders whatsoever credit, but they handled Cousins correctly. He may be i of the few QBs in the NFL that this would exist truthful for, but it mitigated some of Cousins' inconsistent play and perplexing NFL career. Fittingly, his record every bit a starter is 59-59-2.
Washington drafted Cousins in the fourth round in 2012 to support to Robert Griffin Iii, who they took second-overall that yr. Cousins earned the full-time starting role in 2015 after Griffin suffered multiple career-altering injuries. Washington retained Cousins after his iv-year rookie deal, but not in a manner teams traditionally deal with a franchise QB.
Instead of a long-term contract, Washington opted for back-to-dorsum franchise tags. In theory, teams use franchise tags to give themselves and the histrion a year to come to a contract agreement. But Washington seemed to use information technology equally a form of a two-year evidence-it deal.
Looking back, information technology worked out for Washington. They determined that Cousins wasn't worth the contract he wanted. Information technology later turned out into a guaranteed bargain with the Vikings, but the New York Jets were also in the sweepstakes. Whether or not Cousins' camp just used the Jets as leverage is uncertain because they offered him $90 million. The Vikings signed him to an $84 1000000 bargain but apparently wanted him at $25 million per twelvemonth ($75 million total).
In any case, Cousins still got the contract he desired, and information technology was the opposite of team-friendly. That's the root of the result of Cousins. Even though he's an above-boilerplate quarterback, he'southward non worth the 3rd-highest cap hit in the NFL at $45 1000000. Merely Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan have a bigger cap hit percentage adjacent season.
Any contract the size of Cousins' is a risk. But it was a massive swing, specially because his best record was 9-7 with Washington. At this time, Washington had an fantabulous supporting cast, also. They had poor laissez passer defenses but consistently adept pass rushers, thanks to an elite Ryan Kerrigan in his prime.
Washington also gave Cousins skillful receivers and tight ends. He had names like DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Jamison Crowder, Vernon Davis, and nigh a half of a season of Santana Moss. Nothing too crazy, but he had tools on law-breaking.
Cousins was an in a higher place-boilerplate QB, but he wasn't elite, yet he signed a contract that demands elite play. He's not bad, only he's taking upwardly nearly a quarter of his team's cap hit (21.43%). And then, before the "WinS aRen't A qb StAt" crowd gets riled up, retrieve that this isn't the argument for moving on.
The past front office blew upwards the team by committing to Cousins. It would've been worth it if they had won a championship, but they didn't. Nonetheless, Vikings' ownership has said they aren't in for a full rebuild, but that is directly tied to their Cousins decision. If they movement on from Cousins, there's little gamble that the level of QB play stays consistent. That's fine, though, if they're rebuilding.
If Kwesi Adofo-Mensah tin can get whatever assets for Cousins beyond a single first-rounder, he should do it. If they have a draft target in mind now, a single pick could even be worth information technology. It all just depends on where the new front office sees this team going side by side flavor.
The Vikings screwed themselves with the Cousins contract in a sense, even though his time in Washington proved that Cousins was challenging to become a read on. The franchise tin learn from this and, every bit soon as Cousins' contract expires or the next QB comes on board, they should think twice before giving out a guaranteed contract as they did in 2018.
Cousins is 33 years old and, frankly, I don't think any executives know what to do with him. He's skillful but not playoff-run or Monday Nighttime Football proficient. He's accurate only has a poor pocket presence. The ups and downs tell the story, even if there are more ups. It's simple once you consider that he hasn't provided results and is heading over the loma.
Washington was right to go twelvemonth-to-year with him. A guaranteed contract is just also much to commit to until he can make a true playoff run. Hopefully, the Carolina Panthers are all the same willing to motion the sixth-overall pick. If the Vikings can draft a cornerstone player and suck for 1 year, allow's do it, because information technology'll pay off in the long run. Especially with the bright immature front office they've assembled.
Source: https://zonecoverage.com/2022/minnesota-vikings-news/in-hindsight-washington-had-the-best-approach-with-kirk-cousins/
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