Vikings FA Kirk Cousins, Falcons Agree to 4-Year Contract Worth Reported $180M

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Kirk Cousins is on the move after agreeing to a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, ending his six-season run with the Minnesota Vikings.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Cousins’ deal will be worth $180 million:

There was a lot of speculation about Cousins’ future in Minnesota after the front office made some significant changes to the roster following the 2022 season. Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen and Eric Kendricks were all released during the offseason.

Za’Darius Smith was traded to the Cleveland Browns in March, and Danielle Hunter skipped mandatory minicamp in June amid questions about his future with the organization. He ultimately stayed with the team on a new deal that paid him up to $20 million for the 2023 season.

Cousins wasn’t immune to the front-office maneuvering, though there was no danger he wouldn’t be on the Vikings in 2023. They restructured his contract to free up cap space, but notably they didn’t add any years to his deal.

By not adding any additional years to his previous deal, which expired after the 2023 season, the Vikings left open the possibility they could go in a different direction at quarterback.

Minnesota’s season got off to a rough start with four losses in five games. Justin Jefferson landed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury prior to Week 6, keeping him out for at least four games.

Things got better for the Vikings after the 1-4 start with back-to-back wins, including a 22-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7 that saw Cousins throw for a season-high 378 yards.

The Michigan State product didn’t seem to be bothered about going into the last year of his contract without a new deal.

“I think we’ll probably talk about the contract next March,” Cousins told reporters on June 14. “Until then, [we’ll] just focus on this season and the job to do right now.”

However, things changed significantly for Cousins in Minnesota’s 24-10 win over the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 29, as he suffered a torn Achilles that ended his season. The Michigan State alum hadn’t even appeared on an injury report in 10 years prior to tearing his Achilles.

Given his age and the severity of the injury, Cousins’ negotiating leverage may have significantly decreased. He also made it clear at the end of the season that “structure” within an organization is “probably more important” than anything else at this stage of his career.

“I do think it’s important to be aware of,” he said when asked about potentially taking a discount to remain in Minnesota. “I think that God has blessed me financially beyond my wildest dreams. So at this stage in my career, the dollars are really not what it’s about.”

The 12-year veteran was a steady starter for the Vikings over the past six seasons. He threw thrown for at least 4,000 yards four times and at least 26 touchdowns in each of his first five years with the team.

When the Falcons opted to go with Desmond Ridder as their starter going into the 2023 season, most of the optimism was centered around the idea that he couldn’t be worse as a passer than Marcus Mariota was in 2022.

Mariota ranked 19th among all quarterbacks in total EPA and 21st in passing EPA last season. The Falcons still finished a respectable 13th overall in offensive DVOA because head coach Arthur Smith’s running game was one of the best in the league.

Adding Bijan Robinson to the rushing attack was supposed to help ensure that whoever was under center didn’t need to carry a heavy burden. Even with those things working for him, Ridder wasn’t doing anything to elevate the offense.

Ridder ranked 24th in total EPA and 22nd in passing EPA out of 30 qualified quarterbacks.

Bringing in Cousins can open up everything for the Falcons offense. Robinson will be an even bigger factor because opposing teams can’t sell out to stop the run anymore. Wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts should be targeted at least 12 times combined each week.

Given how weak the NFC South is overall, the Falcons with Cousins at the helm could be a playoff team and a potential threat to the top teams in the conference in 2024.