Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is maybe probably the most intriguing free agent hitting the market this offseason after his stellar 2023 season was lower quick attributable to an Achilles tear.
On the time of his harm, Cousins ranked second within the NFL in passing yards (2,331) and was tied for the lead in landing passes (18) whereas throwing simply 5 interceptions. However, since Cousins turns 36 in August and is coming off one of the crucial important accidents an athlete can endure, there isn’t any assure he’ll end out his profession in Minnesota.
Ought to Cousins go away the Vikings, listed below are 4 groups that might be a match for the four-time Professional Bowler.
Atlanta Falcons
After posting six consecutive dropping seasons, the Falcons are coming into a pivotal offseason, and considered one of their main adjustments could change into hiring former Patriots HC Invoice Belichick. As a result of buzz surrounding Belichick doubtlessly heading to Atlanta, Cousins was lately requested by CBS Sports activities’ Isabel Gonzalez whether or not he’d ever play for the six-time Tremendous Bowl-winning head coach and did not rule out the chance.
“I am not going to show down a possibility to play with a future Corridor of Fame coach,” Cousins mentioned final week. “However we’ll need to see the place March leads. There’s simply loads of unknowns proper now.”
With an array of proficient offensive weapons coupled with a strong protection, the Falcons might lastly clinch their first NFC South title since 2016 in the event that they signal Cousins and he returns to kind. In any case, the staff misplaced six one-possession video games this season with underwhelming choices Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke at quarterback.
Las Vegas Raiders
Final week, the Raiders appropriately selected to take away the interim tag and rent Antonio Pierce as their head coach. Underneath Pierce, the Raiders’ protection grew to become one of many NFL’s high items, permitting the fewest factors per sport (16) and scoring probably the most defensive touchdowns (4). Nevertheless, the offense was inconsistent with rookie fourth-rounder Aidan O’Connell at quarterback, and Las Vegas can be silly to not improve the place this offseason.
Even so, because the Raiders maintain the thirteenth total choose within the 2024 NFL Draft, it is likely to be troublesome for them to land a long-term reply on the place this offseason. But, by signing Cousins to steer a roster crammed with proficient veterans, the Raiders might compete for a wild-card spot for the foreseeable future.
It additionally does not harm that Cousins already has the assist of his would-be No. 1 goal in WR Davante Adams, who named the approaching free agent his high quarterback, not named Aaron Rodgers, he’d wish to play with. Proprietor Mark Davis listened to the enter of his gamers when hiring Pierce; maybe he’ll do the identical with Cousins.
New England Patriots
Though New England might simply deal with the quarterback place by choosing one with the third total choose in April’s draft, it does not precisely have the best personnel to assist a rookie. What the Patriots do have is the fourth-most projected cap house within the NFL ($66.1M), which new HC Jerod Mayo says they’re “able to burn.”
Cousins probably will not come low cost when it comes to his upcoming contract’s common annual worth, nevertheless it’s onerous to think about he’d signal a deal that will last more than three seasons. Professional Soccer Focus tasks Cousins to ink a two-year, $60M contract with $37.5M assured in free company. Signing Cousins to this sort of deal can be comparatively low danger for the Patriots and supply them with flexibility on what to do with their quarterback scenario sooner or later.
This situation might additionally open the door for New England to pick out Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., the most effective extensive receiver prospects to ever enter the NFL Draft. Cousins helped celebrity WR Justin Jefferson grow to be a second-team All-Professional choice as a rookie. Who’s to say Harrison could not have comparable outcomes if he had been catching passes from the veteran signal-caller?
Pittsburgh Steelers
Contemplating the Steelers caught with QB Mason Rudolph for his or her run to the playoffs whereas Kenny Pickett was wholesome, it is protected to say the 2022 first-rounder’s days in Pittsburgh are numbered. Assuming Cousins is wholesome sufficient to duplicate the success he had this season in 2024, there may not be a staff whose ceiling he can increase as excessive as Pittsburgh’s.
That is to not say Cousins would make Pittsburgh Tremendous Bowl contenders, however he might assist restore a franchise that hasn’t received a playoff sport because the 2016 AFC divisional spherical again to its profitable methods.
The Steelers’ offense ranked twenty eighth in factors and twenty fifth in yards per sport this season regardless of having proficient pass-catchers in Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, together with one of many NFL’s better-rushing tandems. There is no excuse for Pittsburgh to waste one other season with mediocre quarterbacking.
