The Vikings appear to be hesitant, perhaps unwilling, to give quarterback Kirk Cousins a fully guaranteed deal, according to a report from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Breer reported on Monday that the Vikings’ front office “really likes Cousins, but it’s also been made clear that they’re not going to go contractually where the previous regime did twice, and give Cousins a fully guaranteed deal.”
There appears to be a theme from the Vikings of being hesitant to dish out guaranteed money. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio recently reported that the impasse with a contract extension for Justin Jefferson has been Minnesota’s unwillingness to guarantee money beyond the first year of the new contract.
Cousins will become a free agent in mid-March after his contract voids, which comes after the deadline to franchise tag a player, so that won’t be an option for Minnesota to keep Cousins around on a one-year deal.
Cousins was in the midst of a stellar 2023 campaign before tearing his Achilles. He threw for 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns and just five picks in eight games. So, despite the injury and Cousins’ age — he’ll be 36 by the start of the 2024 season — there’s expected to be a strong market for the longtime Vikings quarterback.
Breer wrote that it makes the most sense for Cousins to wait to hit free agency, and he mentioned Las Vegas and Atlanta as possible destinations for Cousins if he’s unable to reach an agreement with the Vikings.
Despite the Vikings’ seeming unwillingness to give Cousins a guaranteed deal, Breer also reported that Minnesota has been in contact with Cousins’ camp in the last week, “so the lines of communication are open.”
