Another writer thinks Cousins to Vikings makes the most sense

We won't get into a bidding war.

If Cousins wants to be here, he will have to take a lot less money to do it.

@"Vanguard83" said: We won't get into a bidding war.

If Cousins wants to be here, he will have to take a lot less money to do it.

How much (in your opinion) is "alot"?

@"pumpf" said:

@"Vanguard83" said: We won't get into a bidding war.

If Cousins wants to be here, he will have to take a lot less money to do it.

How much (in your opinion) is "alot"?

Is he even worth it? We have other players we need to re-sign pretty soon: Barr, Kendricks, Hunter, Diggs, ... not sure when Waynes' contract comes up.  It's not like giving $30M to Drew Brees.  Cousins isn't that.  I know with our defense and Cook coming back, Cousins won't have to be Brees, but sometimes you need that.  And if he isn't that, why pay him like he is?

@"dadevike" said: Is he even worth it? We have other players we need to re-sign pretty soon: Barr, Kendricks, Hunter, Diggs, ... not sure when Waynes' contract comes up.  It's not like giving $30M to Drew Brees.  Cousins isn't that.  I know with our defense and Cook coming back, Cousins won't have to be Brees, but sometimes you need that.  And if he isn't that, why pay him like he is?

i agree with you and have been pretty vocal about it,  but there is a possible reality that 30 is the new benchmark for "above average" QBs.  he is a good not great QB,  I would likely rank him in that 8-12 range in the league,  maybe a tad higher, but with the escalating cap we are seeing all contracts rise (although not at the same rate as QBs it seems)  I do still say though that we cant chase a player,  there will always be a shit team that is more desperate to sell tickets than the Vikings and getting into a bidding war is dumb no matter who that player is.  I am sure if Brady were to test the market some dumb GM would offer him 35+ and not blink an eye.

Don't misunderstand me, I like Cousins, but I don't know if I like THAT much. If he wants to be the highest paid player in the history of the NFL, and he could very well become that in a few weeks, I think I might pass. Rodgers, Brady, Brees, Big Ben, Stafford? yes. Maybe Ryan and Wilson.  Maybe Prescott,  Wentz, and Watson when their time comes up. Is Cousins in that group?

What is the Mn state income tax rate on $65 mill?

Why is it so hard for many to understand that all of the Top 12 QBs are going to take turns setting the money record based on the salary cap continuing to rise and when their contract is up? 

And Kirk is pretty much universally regarded as a Top 12 QB.

@"FSUVike" said: Why is it so hard for many to understand that all of the Top 12 QBs are going to take turns setting the money record based on the salary cap continuing to rise and when their contract is up? 

And Kirk is pretty much universally regarded as a Top 12 QB.

but at some point that will quit happening.  the contracts for QBs are rising faster than other positions it seems and there will be a tipping point.   I certainly wouldnt pay a #12 QB the same as I would Brady or Rogers so why should I reset the market for them?  there has to be a point where teams say screw it we will not be part of that silliness.  theoretically if 3-4 QBs got new contracts every year that would move that cap number up about 1.5-2 million annually if what you say is true that each one will reset the market.  I mean they arent going to be happy by just being a hundred grand more per year,  they will be looking for 300k to 500K more than the guy that signed his deal last week.

Espn (ugghh) has an article out about which if 7 possible teams would make the most sense from Cousin’s point of view.  In the article it mentions that Diggs, Barr, Kendrics, Waynes and Hunter all have contract exensions coming up. Even without a high priced QB it will be tough to sign them all. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings handle it.  

When Chicago over paid for Cutler we all watched how it prevented them from putting together a strong supporting cast around him.  It seemed to hold them in mediocrity for years.

The conclusion of the article seemd to be that Minnesota and Jacksonville made the most sense. It would be nearly a tie from Cousin’s point of view with similar money and chances to make the super bowl.  State income tax was a deciding factor to select Jacksonville.

@"Poiple" said: Espn (ugghh) has an article out about which if 7 possible teams would make the most sense from Cousin’s point of view.  In the article it mentions that Diggs, Barr, Kendrics, Waynes and Hunter all have contract exensions coming up. Even without a high priced QB it will be tough to sign them all. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings handle it.  

When Chicago over paid for Cutler we all watched how it prevented them from putting together a strong supporting cast around him.  It seemed to hold them in mediocrity for years.

The conclusion of the article seemd to be that Minnesota and Jacksonville made the most sense. It would be nearly a tie from Cousin’s point of view with similar money and chances to make the super bowl.  State income tax was a deciding factor to select Jacksonville.

on these huge contracts state tax has to be a huge consideration I would think.  I know if I was in state with a lower tax bracket I would sure as hell be using that to my advantage when negotiating with FAs.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"Poiple" said: Espn (ugghh) has an article out about which if 7 possible teams would make the most sense from Cousin’s point of view.  In the article it mentions that Diggs, Barr, Kendrics, Waynes and Hunter all have contract exensions coming up. Even without a high priced QB it will be tough to sign them all. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings handle it.  

When Chicago over paid for Cutler we all watched how it prevented them from putting together a strong supporting cast around him.  It seemed to hold them in mediocrity for years.

The conclusion of the article seemd to be that Minnesota and Jacksonville made the most sense. It would be nearly a tie from Cousin’s point of view with similar money and chances to make the super bowl.  State income tax was a deciding factor to select Jacksonville.

on these huge contracts state tax has to be a huge consideration I would think.  I know if I was in state with a lower tax bracket I would sure as hell be using that to my advantage when negotiating with FAs.

@"FSUVike" said: Why is it so hard for many to understand that all of the Top 12 QBs are going to take turns setting the money record based on the salary cap continuing to rise and when their contract is up? 

And Kirk is pretty much universally regarded as a Top 12 QB.

His first 3 years starting he is Top 10 easy:

Passing Yards rank by team - 2015  #5,   2016  #7,   2017  #7
Completion %           2015    #1,    2016   #8,      2017 #9
Yds per completion  2015   #8,     2016  #3,       2017   #9
QBR rating               2015  #5,      2016  #7,       2017  #12

All that production with a bottom ranked Defense and a poorly coached and owned team.

I think the avg amount per year for any NFL contract is the wrong way to look at them.  You only need to know how much is guaranteed and when the team can cut bait and how much dead money they would absorb.

You can make any contract look really large but those latter years are often fluff.

The could give Cousins a 5 yr 140 mil deal with 68 mil guaranteed at the time of signing, a 35 mil signing bonus and salaries of 15, 18, 9, 24, & 29 mil.  The 3rd year could have a 10 mil roster bonus payable early March which would also guarantee his 3rd year salary.  The cap hits would be 22, 25, 26, 31, & 36 mil.

If they wanted to cut him prior to paying the roster bonus in the 3rd year they would only save 5 mil in cap space which makes this example unlikely based on how the Vikings do contracts.  But maybe with Cousins it would be different.

When they get to that 4th year in 2021, who knows how much QBs will be making?  They could always convert some of his 24 mil salary in to a signing bonus and extend him a couple of years too.  Lots of options.

The total number for almost all contracts is usually fluff and most of the time the players do not see those last years.

I think the point is if the contracts are close and in the general ballpark, he'd select Minnesota. Which I believe he would. The question is: what if the Jets go insane with a contract? This is a QB we are talking about and we've seen it happen before. 

I fully believe the rumors that Minnesota is interested and are going to speak with he and his agent. But all that can change when talks start about an actual contract. One thing on Minnesota's side is Cousins has made a lot of money already in Washington. He may take less, but just a little. Nothing substantial. That's my guess, anyway.

Cousins is top 12 in what? Turnovers? Garbage time stats? Bonehead plays at the worst possible time? This is Romo 2.0... 

@"FSUVike" said: Why is it so hard for many to understand that all of the Top 12 QBs are going to take turns setting the money record based on the salary cap continuing to rise and when their contract is up? 

And Kirk is pretty much universally regarded as a Top 12 QB.

I think what is interesting is that Flip must like Cousins: his input would be highly valued game planning against the guy twice a year in Philly.

@"BarrNone55" said: Cousins is top 12 in what? Turnovers? Garbage time stats? Bonehead plays at the worst possible time? This is Romo 2.0... 

There is nothing to support that Cousins had a lot of production in garbage time.

http://www.nfl.com/player/kirkcousins/2532820/situationalstats?season=2015
http://www.nfl.com/player/kirkcousins/2532820/situationalstats?season=2016
http://www.nfl.com/player/kirkcousins/2532820/situationalstats

These were his first 3 seasons starting too.  Like being a rookie even though they came in his 4th season.  Rodgers did not start until his 4th season.

Yes, Cousins has thrown some picks inside the red zone that were costly.  No question.  But not that many for a young QB.

The Redskins made the playoffs his first year (2015) starting every game.

They should have made the playoffs again in 2016 but finished 8-7-1.
That season, he led them to a go ahead score putting them up 17-13 against the Lions with 1:05 left in the game.  The defense let Stafford drive the field and get the game winning score.
He led them to the 16 yard line of the Bengals in overtime in London only to see the kicker miss the chip shot and the game ended tied.  They win those two games and they finish 10-6 and make the playoffs again.

Last year, the team had turnover in the receiving core and not much running game to speak of and he still threw for over 4,000 yards.

He has thrown for 94 TDs and has had 47 turnovers (interceptions and lost fumbles) the last 3 years.
This puts him in the top 6 of all QBs in the NFL during that time.

That is pretty freaking good for a guy starting his first 3 seasons!

There is way too much nit picking going on about what he does at certain times in games without any context provided for each incident.

Like Cousins fumbling in the red zone vs the Eagles.  That turnover counts on his stats but was totally not his fault as he was hit from behind by an unblocked DE.

The 94 TDs is what people should focus upon IMHO.

He will get a much better defense here. 

Sometimes, a QB has no choice but to throw the ball when they A) cant run it and B) the defense cannot stop anybody.