NEWSLETTER
The Minnesota Vikings are 1-4 to start the season and they will be without their best player for at least the next four weeks after wide receiver Justin Jefferson was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury suffered in their Week 5 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
While Kirk Cousins and others in the Vikings might not like it, it’s fair to wonder what Minnesota’s long-term plan looks like, and whether or not it includes their long-time veteran quarterback.
Cousins was asked whether there was any scenario in which he would waive his no trade clause to accommodate the Vikings future plans, and he essentially said that he’s not going to discuss it, period.
“You know, I’m just very focused on the Bears, and going 1-0 this week; anything else is just not worth my time or energy or attention.”
Kirk Cousins isn’t interested in speculating, but the speculation is fair
So, don’t look to Cousins for answer over the next three weeks. Still, the discussion will continue, and they should. Minnesota, to this point, has not been committed to Cousins beyond this season. Contract extension discussions were tabled ahead of training camp, and have not resumed since.
Cousins is in his age-35 season and the Vikings spent the entire offseason saying goodbye to pricey veterans on their rosters. Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, Eric Kendricks, and Za’Darius smith have all departed Minnesota via free agency or trades this offseason. The Vikings have also taken calls on pass rusher Danielle Hunter.
In June, Minnesota GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said of the decision to table extension discussions with Cousins at the NFL Draft in April: “Sometimes you come to a place where you decide, ‘Hey, let’s talk later. This is a solution for now.’ That’s all that’s happened.”
Well, later is now. At least, sort of. The Vikings are 1-4. They play the Bears, 49ers, Packers between now and the trade deadline, and they could very easily be 1-7 or 2-6, losing to San Francisco and splitting with their NFC North rivals. If that’s the case, then Minnesota should be in full sell mode. That should include Kirk Cousins. If he’s willing to allow it, Minnesota should get something in return for him before they say goodbye to him in free agency this offseason.
Still, despite the sound logic, it takes two to tango with Cousins having a no-trade clause, so there’s no guarantee.
That being said, a contender could have a need arise for a quarterback in the next three weeks via injury, and Cousins might be interested in making a run at a Super Bowl and earning a better contract in free agency. So, there’s absolutely a chance, even if no one wants to admit it right now.
Then there’s the Justin Jefferson element to this
Jefferson has always been supportive of his quarterback in the public. He’s also omitted him from his list of top quarterbacks publicly. Something in which Cousins laughed off. But, Jefferson wasn’t kidding. He was caught off guard in a moment of vulnerability, and his true feelings shined through.
If the Vikings want to secure Jefferson as a long-term fixture in Minnesota, getting him a quarterback he can believe in seems like a necessary step in their extension negotiations.
For now, Cousins isn’t interested in talking about what lies ahead in the next three weeks, but that certainly doesn’t mean that we aren’t.
