Forum The Longship Cousins Extended

Cousins Extended

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The #Vikings are signing Pro Bowl QB Kirk Cousins to a one-year, $35 million fully guaranteed extension that puts him under contract through 2023, per sources.

Cousins gets a raise to $40 million in 2022, $55 million payable by next March and a no-trade clause.

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#1 · Mar 13, 5:42 PM
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@"RS Express" said: Welcome to the death of hope.  My one dim light is that the Vikings draft a QB in '23, train him for a year under Kirk, then shove Cousins overboard.  Oh, and draft an RB either this year or nest and have Dalvin walk the plank in '23 because his cap hit is going to be ridiculous then. 

And now we've got $6.25 mil cap hits already on the books for '24 and '25 even if Cousins is gone.  Yippee.


You may not know this, but that's actually really good. 

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#42 · Mar 13, 7:13 PM
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Kirk Cousins cap hits:

2022: $31.25M

2023: $36.25M

2024: $6.25M

2025: $6.25M

 The 2 void years 2024 and 2025 count against the cap, but he won't be on the roster (unless another extension).

I like the deal, acceptable cap hits and the void years aren't too high.

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#43 · Mar 13, 7:13 PM
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Soo we basically got Kirk for one more year with a reduced cap hit this year, more big money next year and we now no longer control his trade option, leaving us once again scrambling in two years to figure out our QB situation as Cousins turns 36 years old, hits free agency, and any trade value would be extremely dimimished anyways. 

This is a win for Cousins and his agent, not for the Vikings. I hope O'Connell turns him into this bona-fide MVP Candidate that he thinks he can but I won't hold my breath. Oh and by the way, anybody holding out for a "stud" rookie to be drafted next year to groom can forget about it because the Vikings won't lose enough games to put us in contention to be drafting that high. This was the year and the time to make a move. Now we've essentially pigeon holed ourselves into a two year window to get it done with Cousins, a rookie coaching staff, and a defense that needs an overhaul with a new scheme being implemented. I think it's a poor strategy and will hold steadfast in that opinion until this organization proves me wrong. 

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#44 · Mar 13, 7:14 PM
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@"minny65" said:
@"RS Express" said: Welcome to the death of hope.  My one dim light is that the Vikings draft a QB in '23, train him for a year under Kirk, then shove Cousins overboard.  Oh, and draft an RB either this year or nest and have Dalvin walk the plank in '23 because his cap hit is going to be ridiculous then. 

And now we've got $6.25 mil cap hits already on the books for '24 and '25 even if Cousins is gone.  Yippee.


Yea and his dead cap hit for 2023 is now almost 50 million!


...which will impact the Vikings as much as my dead cap hit. Which, by the way, is $100M. 

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#45 · Mar 13, 7:15 PM
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Tom Brady is the only one taking a pay cut. That's the reality. Cousins is like 14% of the salary cap. They brought down the percentage so that helps. 

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#46 · Mar 13, 7:16 PM
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So, I guess this amounts to what Cousins considers a team friendly deal…?  :o Check this out:
Cousins, 33, has worked the NFL's labor rules to his advantage better than any player in league history. He worked under the franchise tag in 2016 and 2017, his final two seasons with Washington, and then used that leverage to enter the free agent market in 2018. He has now signed three fully guaranteed contracts with the Vikings, and his $158.9 million in earnings between 2016-21 are the most by any player in the NFL over that period.
By the end of the 2023 season, he will have earned at least $231.7 million in his career.
Now I know who Mike McCartney is.  ;) (Cousins’ agent)
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33495979/source-minnesota-vikings-qb-kirk-cousins-gets-35-million-extension

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#47 · Mar 13, 7:19 PM
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@"supafreak84" said: Soo we basically got Kirk for one more year with a reduced cap hit this year, more big money next year and we now no longer control his trade option, leaving us once again scrambling in two years to figure out our QB situation as Cousins turns 36 years old and any trade value would be extremely dimimished anyways. 

This is a win for Cousins and his agent, not for the Vikings. I hope O'Connell turns him into this bona-fide MVP Candidate that he thinks he can but I won't hold my breath. Oh and by the way, anybody holding out for a "stud" rookie to be drafted next year to groom can forget about it because the Vikings won't lose enough games to put us in contention to be drafting that high. This was the year and the time to make a move. Now we've essentially pigeon holed ourselves into a two year window to get it done with Cousins, a rookie coaching staff, and a defense that needs an overhaul with a new scheme being implemented. I think it's a poor strategy and will hold steadfast in that opinion until this organization proves me wrong. 


Agree 100%.

I guess I have to wait for something else to try and get excited for the upcoming season.  If it is basically resign/extend our current guys, add a few second tier FA's and the draft...rinse repeat and barely compete, wonderful.  

Then you add a first year coaching staff that many want to just assume will be better from game 1.....

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#48 · Mar 13, 7:22 PM
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@"supafreak84" said: Soo we basically got Kirk for one more year with a reduced cap hit this year, more big money next year and we now no longer control his trade option, leaving us once again scrambling in two years to figure out our QB situation as Cousins turns 36 years old, hits free agency, and any trade value would be extremely dimimished anyways. 

This is a win for Cousins and his agent, not for the Vikings. I hope O'Connell turns him into this bona-fide MVP Candidate that he thinks he can but I won't hold my breath. Oh and by the way, anybody holding out for a "stud" rookie to be drafted next year to groom can forget about it because the Vikings won't lose enough games to put us in contention to be drafting that high. This was the year and the time to make a move. Now we've essentially pigeon holed ourselves into a two year window to get it done with Cousins, a rookie coaching staff, and a defense that needs an overhaul with a new scheme being implemented. I think it's a poor strategy and will hold steadfast in that opinion until this organization proves me wrong. 


This is a fair take but it was said weeks ago that the Wilfs don’t want a rebuild. We knew this and they own the team, not us. That doesn’t make you wrong and them right but it’s the reality.

The good part of this extension is it’s short, we gain stability at the position, and we get to see what Kirk can do with KOC. The bad part is we probably won’t stink this season so we aren’t getting a crack at the blue chip QBs in 2023 (story of the franchise) and we also have a very uphill battle to win the division this year. 

If it’s true- as been reported- that KOC was adament about wanting Kirk, what can we do other than hope he knows what he’s doing. 

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#49 · Mar 13, 7:27 PM
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Also- comparing his deal to Tom Brady’s stinks because yeah, Brady’s is waaaay more team friendly. He’s also 10x the leader and winner Kirk is. He also doesn’t want to play for the Minnesota Vikings. So there’s not much point peeking over the fence at him. 

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#50 · Mar 13, 7:31 PM
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@"JustinTime18™" said:
@"Kentis" said: Damn, you’re quick…  B) 
That's what she said
she doesnt even day that anymore.
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#51 · Mar 13, 7:31 PM
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@"minny65" said: Then there is this guy:
Current ContractTom Brady signed a 1 year, $25,000,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including a $20,000,000 signing bonus, $25,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $25,000,000. In 2022, Brady will earn a base salary of $8,925,000, a signing bonus of $15,000,000, a roster bonus of $1,470,588 and a incentive bonus of $1,875,000, while carrying a cap hit of $20,270,588 and a dead cap value of $15,000,000.
I'm sure every starting QB wished they were married to a super model worth $400 plus million.  Lol, so big of Brady to "sacrifice " like he has. 
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#52 · Mar 13, 7:33 PM
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@"MaroonBells" said: Oddly structured extension but I'll take it 
The story behind that is the Vikings wanted to tack on void years and Kirk would only do it if they offered at least a 1 year extension on the deal and no-trade clause. So Vikings were left deciding on a trade now or this deal they took. 
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#53 · Mar 13, 7:40 PM
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@"bigbone62" said:
@"minny65" said: Then there is this guy:
Current ContractTom Brady signed a 1 year, $25,000,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including a $20,000,000 signing bonus, $25,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $25,000,000. In 2022, Brady will earn a base salary of $8,925,000, a signing bonus of $15,000,000, a roster bonus of $1,470,588 and a incentive bonus of $1,875,000, while carrying a cap hit of $20,270,588 and a dead cap value of $15,000,000.
I'm sure every starting QB wished they were married to a super model worth $400 plus million.  Lol, so big of Brady to "sacrifice " like he has. 
Kirk could have married a super model but the minivan prevented a lot of action and fast food dates.  Thus he can't afford to take a hit in his salary to help build the roster.

I'm being a smartarse here because Brady is an outlier and I do not begrudge any NFL player (modern gladiators IMO) to get the most they can while they can.   

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#54 · Mar 13, 7:42 PM
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@"Geoff Nichols" said:
@"MaroonBells" said: Oddly structured extension but I'll take it 
The story behind that is the Vikings wanted to tack on void years and Kirk would only do it if they offered at least a 1 year extension on the deal and no-trade clause. So Vikings were left deciding on a trade now or this deal they took. 
So @MarkSP was right. Interesting. Kirk always the team player! /s
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#55 · Mar 13, 7:44 PM
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This lets the new staff figure out if they want more Cousins or not. 

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#56 · Mar 13, 7:46 PM
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@"pattersaur" said:
@"Geoff Nichols" said:
@"MaroonBells" said: Oddly structured extension but I'll take it 
The story behind that is the Vikings wanted to tack on void years and Kirk would only do it if they offered at least a 1 year extension on the deal and no-trade clause. So Vikings were left deciding on a trade now or this deal they took. 
So @MarkSP was right. Interesting. Kirk always the team player! /s
Yes he was, I figured Kirk would add them since it only benefitted him. But if you can get an extra $35M in the process, why not. 
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#57 · Mar 13, 7:47 PM
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@"pattersaur" said:
@"supafreak84" said: Soo we basically got Kirk for one more year with a reduced cap hit this year, more big money next year and we now no longer control his trade option, leaving us once again scrambling in two years to figure out our QB situation as Cousins turns 36 years old, hits free agency, and any trade value would be extremely dimimished anyways. 

This is a win for Cousins and his agent, not for the Vikings. I hope O'Connell turns him into this bona-fide MVP Candidate that he thinks he can but I won't hold my breath. Oh and by the way, anybody holding out for a "stud" rookie to be drafted next year to groom can forget about it because the Vikings won't lose enough games to put us in contention to be drafting that high. This was the year and the time to make a move. Now we've essentially pigeon holed ourselves into a two year window to get it done with Cousins, a rookie coaching staff, and a defense that needs an overhaul with a new scheme being implemented. I think it's a poor strategy and will hold steadfast in that opinion until this organization proves me wrong. 


This is a fair take but it was said weeks ago that the Wilfs don’t want a rebuild. We knew this and they own the team, not us. That doesn’t make you wrong and them right but it’s the reality.

The good part of this extension is it’s short, we gain stability at the position, and we get to see what Kirk can do with KOC. The bad part is we probably won’t stink this season so we aren’t getting a crack at the blue chip QBs in 2023 (story of the franchise) and we also have a very uphill battle to win the division this year. 

If it’s true- as been reported- that KOC was adament about wanting Kirk, what can we do other than hope he knows what he’s doing. 


Well the Wilfs are fools then if they think they can overhaul the entire front office, coaching staff, and not understand that rebuilding is probably the best way to move past mediocrity. They shitcanned Zim and Spielman because they were tired of being average. That's fair..but if they think tying themselves to Cousins for two more years for big money with a rookie coaching staff and a roster with holes the size of the Grand Canyon is the roght recipe for long term Super Bowl success...they are likely very, very wrong. Give me a young QB I can build around for the next decade, not an above average 35 year old that I'm continuously having to shell our big money for and figure out his contract. When you hit the organizational reset button like the Wilfs decided to do, that's the kind of thing you are opening themselves up for. Unfortunately for the Wilfs and all of us, we are going to get more mediocre results over the next couple years with no answer on a long term QB 

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#58 · Mar 13, 7:48 PM
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@"Geoff Nichols" said:
@"MaroonBells" said: Oddly structured extension but I'll take it 
The story behind that is the Vikings wanted to tack on void years and Kirk would only do it if they offered at least a 1 year extension on the deal and no-trade clause. So Vikings were left deciding on a trade now or this deal they took. 
Do you know or think there was a lot of interest from other teams for Kirk?  Their was never anything solid reported and that is usually always revealed these days.  
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#59 · Mar 13, 7:49 PM
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@"minny65" said:
@"Geoff Nichols" said:
@"MaroonBells" said: Oddly structured extension but I'll take it 
The story behind that is the Vikings wanted to tack on void years and Kirk would only do it if they offered at least a 1 year extension on the deal and no-trade clause. So Vikings were left deciding on a trade now or this deal they took. 
Do you know or think there was a lot of interest from other teams for Kirk?  Their was never anything solid reported and that is usually always revealed these days.  
I don't know the exact offer but I was told they got "something to consider". But they weren't thrilled with moving him in general because no matter what you think of Kirk there weren't any ways to really improve. 
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#60 · Mar 13, 7:53 PM
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New Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in a statement: "High level quarterback play is a prerequisite to building a championship team, and we are confident Kirk will continue along that path."
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#61 · Mar 13, 7:55 PM
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