So the question is: why didn't they resign Cousins?

@"medaille" said: I don’t think it’s too complicated.

I think they have this plan of refreshing the roster and
building around a rookie contract QB and Cousins requirement of having more
years guaranteed dramatically inhibits that plan as you’d be paying Cousins
premium money throughout the majority of the rookies contract and by the time
you were free of Cousins and his void years, you’d be paying the “Rookie QB”
their 5th year option.

Cousins just isn’t good enough / cost-effective enough /
young enough to change that plan back into the  “Build around an expensive veteran” plan that
we’ve been running back for the Kirk time period.  I think if Cousins was a Mahomes/Rodgers caliber
of QB, they would have figured it out, but he’s still in that middle tier of
QBs that doesn’t have much playoff success.

Yep this is a better way of putting what I was trying to say.
The plan was the plan and while it's hit some bumps in the road (we're currently in one), they stuck to it. Kirk is good but not good enough to justify deviation, especially coming off injury and especially with our roster already in full turnover mode.

@"medaille" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said: not sure if this has been shared yet:  Kirk deal broken down by year.  essentially it was a 3 year deal for 45M per year w/ 90 million guaranteed,   they could get out after year 2 and eat that 25 million in cap hit if they were really wanting to cut ties, but most likely he gets year 3 IMO barring injury,  even if its to back up a new kid.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/kirk-cousins-9915/  (here is the link,  the cut and paste is kind of cluttered)

CONTRACT TERMS:4 yr(s) / $180,000,000

SIGNING BONUS$50,000,000

AVERAGE SALARY$45,000,000

GTD AT SIGN:$90,000,000

TOTAL GTD:$100,000,000

FREE AGENT:2028 / UFA

				BONUS BREAKDOWN		CAP DETAILS		CASH DETAILS
YEAR		AGE	BASE SALARY	SIGNING	ROSTER	CAP HIT	DEAD CAP	YEARLY CASH	CASH AAV
2024		36	$12,500,000	$12,500,000	-	$25,000,000	$90,000,000	$62,500,000($62,500,000)	$62,500,000
2025		37	$27,500,000	$12,500,000	-	$40,000,000	$65,000,000	$27,500,000($90,000,000)	$45,000,000
2026		38	$35,000,000	$12,500,000	$10,000,000	$57,500,000	$25,000,000	$45,000,000($135,000,000)	$45,000,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2027, 3 YR, $135,000,000; $12,500,000 DEAD CAP
2027		39	$35,000,000	$12,500,000	$10,000,000	$57,500,000	$12,500,000	$45,000,000($180,000,000)	$45,000,000
2028		40	UFA
Contract Notes: $90M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2024 salary + 2025 salary) 2026 Roster Bonus: $10M (fully guarantees the 5th league day of 2025 (injury guaranteed at signing) 2027 Roster Bonus: $10M (5th league day of 2027) Full No Trade Clause

For comparison, if we were to match that we'd also have his void years added to the dead cap numbers

@"StickyBun" said:

@"jargomcfargo" said: BTW I find it curious to hear the day before the move was announced, the Cousins had been shopping for homes in Atlanta. Someone here said they were just doing due diligence! Just about 3 hours after it was announced Kirk was leaving a KFAN radio show host said the Cousin's Minnesota house was already sold! Possibly BS. But interesting if not!

KOC alluded that there was some illegal tampering going on out there with Cousins. You can bet your ass it was Atlanta, feeling out the parameters of a deal. 

@"DeepFreeze05" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"jargomcfargo" said: BTW I find it curious to hear the day before the move was announced, the Cousins had been shopping for homes in Atlanta. Someone here said they were just doing due diligence! Just about 3 hours after it was announced Kirk was leaving a KFAN radio show host said the Cousin's Minnesota house was already sold! Possibly BS. But interesting if not!

KOC alluded that there was some illegal tampering going on out there with Cousins. You can bet your ass it was Atlanta, feeling out the parameters of a deal. 

Oh, yeah. A day or so before the combine, a video shared by Justine Fields' manager showing Fields celebrating (a trade in works with the Falcons?).  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nfl/article-13138937/justin-fields-atlanta-falcons-trade-chicago-bears-nfl.html After the combine, a ton of smoke on Atlanta coming hard after Cousins. Alright Atlanta, you can send your first round pick along with a few other for tampering.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"DeepFreeze05" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"jargomcfargo" said: BTW I find it curious to hear the day before the move was announced, the Cousins had been shopping for homes in Atlanta. Someone here said they were just doing due diligence! Just about 3 hours after it was announced Kirk was leaving a KFAN radio show host said the Cousin's Minnesota house was already sold! Possibly BS. But interesting if not!

KOC alluded that there was some illegal tampering going on out there with Cousins. You can bet your ass it was Atlanta, feeling out the parameters of a deal. 

Oh, yeah. A day or so before the combine, a video shared by Justine Fields' manager showing Fields celebrating (a trade in works with the Falcons?).  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nfl/article-13138937/justin-fields-atlanta-falcons-trade-chicago-bears-nfl.html After the combine, a ton of smoke on Atlanta coming hard after Cousins. Alright Atlanta, you can send your first round pick along with a few other for tampering.

Send?  Nah,  they just lose it,  we don't get it.   Nothing to gain by the Vikes making a stink at this point.  Now if the contract was nullified and Cousins had to come back to Minnesota on a repeat of last years deal... then you make noise,  or if you got their picks,  then sure,  but it don't work that way.  Of course that would be one less team between the Vikes and the QB of their choosing. 

@"medaille" said: I don’t think it’s too complicated.

I think they have this plan of refreshing the roster and
building around a rookie contract QB and Cousins requirement of having more
years guaranteed dramatically inhibits that plan as you’d be paying Cousins
premium money throughout the majority of the rookies contract and by the time
you were free of Cousins and his void years, you’d be paying the “Rookie QB”
their 5th year option.

Cousins just isn’t good enough / cost-effective enough /
young enough to change that plan back into the  “Build around an expensive veteran” plan that
we’ve been running back for the Kirk time period.  I think if Cousins was a Mahomes/Rodgers caliber
of QB, they would have figured it out, but he’s still in that middle tier of
QBs that doesn’t have much playoff success.

This is my point and what I alluded to in my original post: ultimately, this wasn't their guy (Cousins) to get them to the top for the comp he was requesting and the guarantees. Like Meatloaf said:' I want you.....I need you....but there ain't no way I'm ever going to love you'.

@"StickyBun" said: I mean, if they felt strongly enough about him, they could have done it. Stepped up contactually. Kirko loved it in Minnesota, so did his family. The team loved him. He was an excellent leader and ironman. Good community guy. So why didn't they? Don't say the injury, because that didn't stop Atlanta one iota. Nor his age.

KOC can tell me he loved Kirk all day long.....and I mostly believe him. But its obvious he didn't LOVE love him. Nor did the organization apparently. IMO, it came down to a few items:

• Lack of mobility/average arm strength.
• Kirk's mentality: he was really hard on himself when he messed up and struggled to move past it. We've seen sideline scenarios where KOC and Kirk were testy with each other over letting things go. 
• I think both KOC and KAM love the idea of bringing in a rookie they can teach THEIR way. I think they are confident in KOC's ability to mentor up a kid with ability and aptitude fresh from college. They also brought on McCown to be the guy in that rookie's ear, supporting him and building him up.
• I think the organization wants that rookie QB salary window before he gets truly paid to build a strong contending team around that via free agency/draft. KAM has dug the team out of a salary cap hole.

Although it doesn't look like it right now, I think this plan is how they think they'll truly win a Super Bowl. 

There is a good article in the Athletic this morning. i’d say while they definitely lioved Kirk, they really are enamored with the idea of building around a talented QB on a rookie contract, being able to have the money to build around that player, with the cap space, etc. 
 They would have been fine to sign Kirk to a bridge contract but really only as a means to still work that plan. Kirk was looking for more commitment and found it in Atlanta. and the Vikings could really rehaul with him and Jefferson still on the books. i think its more about building a championship caliber team and that has been tbe plan since Kwesi was hired. If they were to keep Kirk, they would continue to hang on the fringes of being competitive but he’s not young and the rest of the team needs an infusion of talent. it hasnt helped that their drafts have sucked because that has accelerated the need to add free agents and the cost associated with it.

I think you’re reading too much into it. I don't think it's about degrees of like, love or even how talented they believe Cousins is or isn't. I think they all understand he's a very good QB. The kind you try really hard to keep. 
I think it's about Kwesi not wanting to put any QB money into 2026. For better or worse (worse in this case), that’s where he drew the line. He cleared the decks last year; he's clearing more this year. He has a specific and rigid financial vision. KOC might buy into that, but he’s clearly not happy about losing his QB. 
In Kwesi’s defense, he’s been given a high-profile job and before he’s held to account, he wants a chance to build the team his way. I think he’s a very confident guy and he believes in his vision. 
Should we? It’s too early to tell. 

I think the time, above all, was the clincher. I know the players wanted Kirk back, the coach did, and for all the spittle about "...only won 1 playoff game...", functional people also know that we've been pure s**t at protecting our QBs for the last decade, whereas champion teams prioritize exactly that, and trench play in general.

Think of the years of our IOL issues, think of giving up 6 rushing TDs to NOLA on Xmas a few years back, and realize: we were JUNK in both trenches. We weren't a PLAYOFF TEAM, and no amount of grousing about the QB would change that. Blame Rick, blame Zimmer, even KOC/KAM to an extent, but for all Kirk's mobility and other issues, the Vikings weren't going to go far into the postseason with teams like SF and Philly that could manhandle us in the trenches all game long.

Last season, we got a bit better in IOL, Ingram in particular seemed to take a MUCH needed step forward...and, for the moment, it looks like Sam Darnold will be the one most appreciative.

As much as I truly do hate to see Kirk go, any anger back and forth is futile and frankly wasted. Yes, god forbid, he was a QB in his prime that played-and won-at the negotiating table, whether him or his agent. By the same token, he could win shootouts against GB (not so much a Teddy thing), could definitely be clutch (see: comebacks in 2022), and is nudging our most legendary QBs in our record books as far as production. No, he didn't get a bunch of postseason laurels, because the team, frankly, didn't deserve them.

He gets to ride off into the sunset as "the man" for one last contract. KAM/KOC can finally step up and build the offense around their vision...and we can finally see what that is.

Hopefully, everybody wins.

@"StickyBun" said: I mean, if they felt strongly enough about him, they could have done it. Stepped up contactually. Kirko loved it in Minnesota, so did his family. The team loved him. He was an excellent leader and ironman. Good community guy. So why didn't they? Don't say the injury, because that didn't stop Atlanta one iota. Nor his age.

KOC can tell me he loved Kirk all day long.....and I mostly believe him. But its obvious he didn't LOVE love him. Nor did the organization apparently. IMO, it came down to a few items:

• Lack of mobility/average arm strength.
• Kirk's mentality: he was really hard on himself when he messed up and struggled to move past it. We've seen sideline scenarios where KOC and Kirk were testy with each other over letting things go. 
• I think both KOC and KAM love the idea of bringing in a rookie they can teach THEIR way. I think they are confident in KOC's ability to mentor up a kid with ability and aptitude fresh from college. They also brought on McCown to be the guy in that rookie's ear, supporting him and building him up.
• I think the organization wants that rookie QB salary window before he gets truly paid to build a strong contending team around that via free agency/draft. KAM has dug the team out of a salary cap hole.

Although it doesn't look like it right now, I think this plan is how they think they'll truly win a Super Bowl. 

I posted the following in various threads on this board previously so at the risk of repeating myself...

1. Kwesi stated when he was hired he was building an analytical model to identify a great future qb from the draft.   
2. The moves they've made over the last 1-2 years all point in the direction of turning over the roster, getting a young qb and having huge cap space to work with starting in 2025
3. He stated more recently that they've been watching the 2024 qb draft class for the last 2(!) years--the intent is obvious.   
4. Every public statement recently on the Kirk situation was "we like him BUT" followed by hedging as to why it might not work.  This was not a team saying "he's our guy and we're signing up for more come hell or high water!" 
5. Their relatively lowball offer to Kirk was a way of saying, "you can come here for more but we're drafting a kid this year either way." 
6. The lack of a 2nd year guarantee in the above offer only confirms this strategy - if the kid has "it" Kirk would be cut loose in 2025.
7. Kirk has said he doesn't want to be a "bridge" or a mentor, and thus more money and being the Man and making the wife happy in Atlanta is the obvious path for him.
8. The odds that KAM/KOC can retain their jobs long term by just running back the average results of the Rick Spielman era are about zero imho.  They have to draft their own guy and set their own vision that leads to a championship, not more .500 football and early playoff exits.  That time has arrived in full, and personally I'm excited to see how it plays out.  =)

Kirk said he was looking to go to a place where the owners, GM, HC, and QB were all on the same page. He feels he found that in Atlanta!
Also an interesting statement.

Kirk said it best in his interview after officially signing with Atlanta -- with Minnesota it felt like a year-to-year thing.  With Atlanta, it felt like a place he could retire.  It may turn out to be delusional (as I noted before, Atlanta could dump Kirk after 2 years with a manageable hit) -- but Minnesota gave Kirk every reason to feel as he did with the way they handled his contract.

As we move on, the one decision that will matter is the one that delivers our next QB.  I think it was Zulgad who said this is why they brought in KOC.  Given the hit rate with first round QB's, it is quite the gamble.  But recognizing this, my own view is that KAM has poorly managed this transition -- yes, it might have been the "plan" all along, but there are plenty of executional elements, and I have not seen anything that gives me hope that KAM will pull this off:

• We let Danielle Hunter walk for nothing.  Big mistake.  We knew we were moving on -- it was the same contract manuevering they pulled with Cousins.  If you are going to let him walk and you are going to need draft capital to get your QBOF, trading Hunter was an obvious move.
• We are short on draft capital moving into the year we need it the most.  A great GM would have built a bank -- KAM has not.  What does this mean?  It means if we make a move up the draft board this year, we will pay dearly and empty the piggy bank of future draft picks.  A great team is built through the draft and supplemented with smart FA moves.  We will be compromised building a roster of affordable talent if we trade up as expected.
• Speaking of trading up, everyone now knows we need a QB, so everyone and their uncle who has their sites set on a QB in this draft will be aiming to jump ahead of the Vikings.  We put ourselves in this position.
• And finally, speaking of the draft, KAM has, IMHO, performed in the bottom quartile of GMs in the draft since he took over.  Trade key picks to division rivals?  Check.  Get less than fair market value? Check.  Draft a bunch of duds?  Check.  And, of course, the icing on the cake was passing on the consensus best safety in the draft (Kyle Hamilton, now an All-Pro) to draft a guy who can't even make it on the field on Sundays (and gifting a division rival a sweet deal in the process).

__PRESENT__PRESENT__PRESENT

@"Purpleblooded" said: Kirk said it best in his interview after officially signing with Atlanta -- with Minnesota it felt like a year-to-year thing.  With Atlanta, it felt like a place he could retire.  It may turn out to be delusional (as I noted before, Atlanta could dump Kirk after 2 years with a manageable hit) -- but Minnesota gave Kirk every reason to feel as he did with the way they handled his contract.

As we move on, the one decision that will matter is the one that delivers our next QB.  I think it was Zulgad who said this is why they brought in KOC.  Given the hit rate with first round QB's, it is quite the gamble.  But recognizing this, my own view is that KAM has poorly managed this transition -- yes, it might have been the "plan" all along, but there are plenty of executional elements, and I have not seen anything that gives me hope that KAM will pull this off:

• We let Danielle Hunter walk for nothing.  Big mistake.  We knew we were moving on -- it was the same contract manuevering they pulled with Cousins.  If you are going to let him walk and you are going to need draft capital to get your QBOF, trading Hunter was an obvious move.
• We are short on draft capital moving into the year we need it the most.  A great GM would have built a bank -- KAM has not.  What does this mean?  It means if we make a move up the draft board this year, we will pay dearly and empty the piggy bank of future draft picks.  A great team is built through the draft and supplemented with smart FA moves.  We will be compromised building a roster of affordable talent if we trade up as expected.
• Speaking of trading up, everyone now knows we need a QB, so everyone and their uncle who has their sites set on a QB in this draft will be aiming to jump ahead of the Vikings.  We put ourselves in this position.
• And finally, speaking of the draft, KAM has, IMHO, performed in the bottom quartile of GMs in the draft since he took over.  Trade key picks to division rivals?  Check.  Get less than fair market value? Check.  Draft a bunch of duds?  Check.  And, of course, the icing on the cake was passing on the consensus best safety in the draft (Kyle Hamilton, now an All-Pro) to draft a guy who can't even make it on the field on Sundays (and gifting a division rival a sweet deal in the process).

__PRESENT__PRESENT__PRESENT

Agree with most of your post but I want to counter that KAM didn't acquire draft capital for a possible move up. What players should he have traded for picks? No team was trading for a washed Kendricks, Theilen or Harry. We couldn't even get a 7th round pick for Dalvin because if you recall, his 2023 contract was over $10M. No team was trading for that contract. Kirko has had a NTC for as long as he's been here. It's unlikely that he would've agreed to a trade.
The only player who was tradeable was DH & the rumor was at the deadline the most that was offered was a 2nd round pick. I can guarantee you that the fans who are criticizing KAM for not trading DH would've been the same fans to criticize him for not getting a 1st in a trade.

The Vikings made Kirk Cousins an offer for more than one year that included guaranteed money in year two, sources tell @alec_lewis and me. Ultimately, the Falcons’ offer exceeded how far Minnesota was willing to go. The team is now focused on maximizing a flexible future.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 14, 2024

Now watch Atlanta draft a QB at 8… ;) B)  

Tampering Tampering Tampering.That’s what happened and I hope the Vikings realize that. The signing was way too fast and now I’ve read Cousins played a role in Mooney joining the team. In my opinion, that’s a lot happening really fast for it all to have been above board. 

I wouldn’t be surprised to find out Atlanta had contact with Cousins weeks in advance. 

Dirty, dirty birds…!  :s 

The NFL is looking into potential tampering by the #Eagles and #Falcons prior to the start of free agency, as is standard in such matters, per league source.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 14, 2024

If they tampered, especially well before free agency, which is what I think happened, Atlanta owes the Vikings their 8th pick in round 1 at a minimum. He’s a franchise QB both sides expected to resign until the last couple of weeks. If the evidence shows tampering, they have to pay and pay dearly. 

Getting caught trying to talk to a franchise QB is one thing, actually doing it and succeeding is another all together. Without a massive penalty and compensation to the Vikings, there’s no reason not to tamper with a franchise QB. It would be well worth it.

All teams tamper at the combine.  The reason they are looking into the bird teams is they blabbed about it publicly.  Atlanta was actually Kirk mentioning it at the presser.  Off to a great start, possibly costing his team a draft pick down the road.