Where will Kirk end up?

I still feel strongly Kirk stays in Minnesota. Rumors are heating up heading into March. 

@"StickyBun" said: I still feel strongly Kirk stays in Minnesota. Rumors are heating up heading into March. 

I'd feel better about it if Atlanta weren't such a perfect fit and if there weren't so many idiots in Minnesota media he and his family have got to be anxious to get away from...

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"TBro" said: You either sign him now, or let him walk in Free Agency. The Vikings aren't stupid enough to let all of his $28.5m dead cap hit go against this year's cap, and then try to sign him to a deal after that. You either get a deal done so you can spread that cap number over the next 2-3 years or move on. 

Its possible to make the cap implications (with the dead money) similar in 2024/25. But its not ideal since you'd only be pushing money into the future to make that possible. E.G you just take the dead money now and move it to 2026 in a different way. But the catch-22 is if they want to re-sign Kirk and keep his cap hits lower they'll be doing some of that anyways. Ideal to get a deal done before the contract voids. But I guess there is some world where they could still work something out. 

Per Jeremy Fowler at ESPN;

"Cousins is not expected to take a hometown discount to stay in Minnesota. He has a very specific idea in mind for what he wants on his next contract and so far the Vikings have not made a contract offer that matches that." 

@"supafreak84" said: Per Jeremy Fowler at ESPN;

"Cousins is not expected to take a hometown discount to stay in Minnesota. He has a very specific idea in mind for what he wants on his next contract and so far the Vikings have not made a contract offer that matches that." 

This is still a bit of a game of chicken between the Vikings and Kirk. The Cousins camp has quite a bit of leverage and deservingly can sit back and ask for what they want from the Vikings. Everyone saw how they performed without Kirk and they have no shoe-in solution. Likewise, the Vikings continue to bet on the fact his market won't develop and he'll return on a "fair" deal.

Deadlines end up spurring action and the Vikings are ultimately going to have to show their card first: 

Since last year they had Kirk comfortably under contract and didn't need to do anything. So why offer a Kirk friendly deal at that point when they could just figure it out at the deadline leading up to free agency? I don't know if I want to say that is a "great" strategy. But the Vikings can basically finish this with single phone call if they absolutely want to. 

Actually letting this get to a week from tomorrow and allowing Kirk to freely negotiate in the marketplace is a different beast. At that point all bets are off and the Vikings are simply a single team competing for his services. 

From Kirks standpoint there is absolutely no reason to agree to a deal with the Vikings until the last moment, when he has to play his card, unless its the specific deal he is looking for. Which is what Fowler is implying here. 

Not much has arguably changed. QB needy teams will be interested in a top 10-12 QB. Kirk will continue to win the business side of football. We're just getting to the point where a hard deadline is going to spur some action. 

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"supafreak84" said: Per Jeremy Fowler at ESPN;

"Cousins is not expected to take a hometown discount to stay in Minnesota. He has a very specific idea in mind for what he wants on his next contract and so far the Vikings have not made a contract offer that matches that." 

Not much has arguably changed. QB needy teams will be interested in a top 10-12 QB. Kirk will continue to win the business side of football. We're just getting to the point where a hard deadline is going to spur some action. 

@"purplefaithful" said: Nix is getting no love here huh?

He had a solid combine and boosted his draft stock. He might be the best of what's left if the Vikings stay at 11 assuming JJM goes in the top 10 with Williams, Maye, and Daniels. According to a post on X(Twitter), the Giants met with Nix once, and the Vikings met with him 5 times at the combine between the Scouts, Coaches, and the GM. Vikings are definitely interested. He is probably the most NFL ready QB in this draft. You can knock him for running a simplified offense at Oregon and mainly throwing 5 yard passes, but you can't deny he is one of the most accurate QB's in this class, reads and processes quickly, which is something KOC demands from his QB's and why he like Cousins so much. With the right System, can KOC take advantage of Nix's talents? Is he a good match to run KOC's offense? I think he is. My only question mark on Nix is his ability to drive the ball deep with accuracy. He had some really nice deep throws in Indy, and he also missed on a few. A lot of that is just timing with receivers you haven't played or practiced with. No question he had the arm talent and Jerimiah kept stressing that on the combine broadcast. He also adds mobility that Kirk doesn't have which opens up the play book. 

@"TBro" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: Nix is getting no love here huh?

He had a solid combine and boosted his draft stock. He might be the best of what's left if the Vikings stay at 11 assuming JJM goes in the top 10 with Williams, Maye, and Daniels. According to a post on X(Twitter), the Giants met with Nix once, and the Vikings met with him 5 times at the combine between the Scouts, Coaches, and the GM. Vikings are definitely interested. He is probably the most NFL ready QB in this draft. You can knock him for running a simplified offense at Oregon and mainly throwing 5 yard passes, but you can't deny he is one of the most accurate QB's in this class, reads and processes quickly, which is something KOC demands from his QB's and why he like Cousins so much. With the right System, can KOC take advantage of Nix's talents? Is he a good match to run KOC's offense? I think he is. My only question mark on Nix is his ability to drive the ball deep with accuracy. He had some really nice deep throws in Indy, and he also missed on a few. A lot of that is just timing with receivers you haven't played or practiced with. No question he had the arm talent and Jerimiah kept stressing that on the combine broadcast. He also adds mobility that Kirk doesn't have which opens up the play book. 

@"supafreak84" said: Per Jeremy Fowler at ESPN;

"Cousins is not expected to take a hometown discount to stay in Minnesota. He has a very specific idea in mind for what he wants on his next contract and so far the Vikings have not made a contract offer that matches that." 

Shouldn't our Captn' Kirk start thinking about his NFL legacy starting about now?  The dude has made so much money, but still has quite a bit of a league wide crappy reputation as a legit "Star".  If his entire motivation as a player is all about making as much money as possible, none of that changes for him.
What if he did give the Vikes a nice hometown discount, and they used those savings to surround him with a better OL, RB, and WRs?  If he stayed, he could let himself be on a team with a rebuilt defense by resigning Hunter and going after other big name defenseive FAs.Maybe Kirk likes his spot on the couch in January and February so hoisting a SB trophy over his head just doesn't mean all that much.If he won't resign because he can make more somewhere else, screw him.  I would never bet he'd be winning a SB with his next team either.

@"HappyViking" said:

@"supafreak84" said: Per Jeremy Fowler at ESPN;

"Cousins is not expected to take a hometown discount to stay in Minnesota. He has a very specific idea in mind for what he wants on his next contract and so far the Vikings have not made a contract offer that matches that." 

Shouldn't our Captn' Kirk start thinking about his NFL legacy starting about now?  The dude has made so much money, but still has quite a bit of a league wide crappy reputation as a legit "Star".  If his entire motivation as a player is all about making as much money as possible, none of that changes for him.
What if he did give the Vikes a nice hometown discount, and they used those savings to surround him with a better OL, RB, and WRs?  If he stayed, he could let himself be on a team with a rebuilt defense by resigning Hunter and going after other big name defenseive FAs.Maybe Kirk likes his spot on the couch in January and February so hoisting a SB trophy over his head just doesn't mean all that much.If he won't resign because he can make more somewhere else, screw him.  I would never bet he'd be winning a SB with his next team either.

Per Dan Graziano at ESPN this morning on his post Combine wrap up;

"I have been told by multiple sources this week that signing Cousins -- not trading for Justin Fields -- is the Falcons' top QB solution, assuming Cousins makes it to free agency."

Per Fowler;

"And as you said, Dan, some people in the league believe Atlanta will pursue Cousins. As one NFL exec put it, that's probably one of the best overall free agent fits out there." 

Sounds like the Falcons are coming after him (not surprising) if nothing gets done in Minnesota before the start of free agency 

I just heard KOC's interview with Rich Eisen at the combine.  He sounds like a guy whose girlfriend Kirkella just told him she hopes they can still be friends.

If Kirk leaves and Vikings don’t draft qb round one, then 2024 is a waste and the Wilf’s will can the GM and coach and start over in 25.

@"smleh" said: If Kirk leaves and Vikings don’t draft qb round one, then 2024 is a waste and the Wilf’s will can the GM and coach and start over in 25.

I'm not expecting any rook QB to start.

A big issue for 2024 would be finding a competent bridge QB...

I'd prefer to keep Kirk. But if they lose him, but find that bridge? Draft someone I am excited about?

I'm probably ok with that. 

Quarter billion from this franchise and he wants even more.  Kook is quite greedy.  

Time to move on.

@"comet52" said: I just heard KOC's interview with Rich Eisen at the combine.  He sounds like a guy whose girlfriend Kirkella just told him she hopes they can still be friends.

If Kirk can't give a discount, send him packing and do what you need to do to get your QB out of this draft.  I think this is an easier decision than most make it out to be.  Kirk with this current team and not willing to leave some dollars on the table to fortify the team in FA is pretty much worthless.  Good QB but time to quit being held hostage every year.  He's made his money.  Now it's time to prove he's a Viking.

@"Waterboy" said:

@"comet52" said: I just heard KOC's interview with Rich Eisen at the combine.  He sounds like a guy whose girlfriend Kirkella just told him she hopes they can still be friends.

If Kirk can't give a discount, send him packing and do what you need to do to get your QB out of this draft.  I think this is an easier decision than most make it out to be.  Kirk with this current team and not willing to leave some dollars on the table to fortify the team in FA is pretty much worthless.  Good QB but time to quit being held hostage every year.  He's made his money.  Now it's time to prove he's a Viking.

Schefter on McAfee today, thinks that while Atlanta and Minnesota are the primary suitors for Cousins, he thinks Washington could also jump into the mix and that they are totally flexible evaluating quarterback possibilities. 

I don't see that being a great fit with Kingsbury, but interesting..

@"supafreak84" said: Schefter on McAfee today, thinks that while Atlanta and Minnesota are the primary suitors for Cousins, he thinks Washington could also jump into the mix and that they are totally flexible evaluating quarterback possibilities. 

I don't see that being a great fit with Kingsbury, but interesting..

Either way a QB hungry team in front of us is taken out of the mix.

It's gross, he could take $20M per year, get 3 guaranteed years out of it and this team could have the flexibility to retain its best players AND add a key piece or two every year.

But he's not that guy.  He has $250M and for some terrible reason, think he needs more.  

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/indications-are-building-of-potential-kirk-cousins-move-to-atlanta