:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59010223/usa_today_10524242.0.jpg)
According to Ian Rapoport, Cousins will be taking his first (and maybe only) free agent visit to the Vikings.
Free agent QB Kirk Cousins is visiting the #Vikings first, source said. That first visit is huge.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2018
The #Vikings are in the driver’s seat for free agent QB Kirk Cousins. They offered him a 3-year, $28M per year deal. It is not over. But if the visit goes well, he is likely to sign there.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2018
Free agent QB Kirk Cousins will have dinner with #Vikings coaches and other essential personnel tomorrow night, then visit the shiny new facility on Thursday, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2018
Soon-to-be former Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins is set to make his first visit in free agency, and it will be with the MInnesota Vikings per Ian Rapoport. He also reports that the Vikings have offered Cousins an unprecedented 3 year, $28 million per year deal that is fully guaranteed. Cousins became an unrestriced free agent last week when the Redskins declined to use a third consecutive franchise tag on him. The team also made their intentions on Cousins known when they traded for Kansas City Chiefs QB Alex Smith on January 30th.
The Vikings are one of a handful of teams that were reportedly going to make a run at Cousins, a very good QB who is in his prime and hitting the open market. One of those teams dropped out of the race yesterday. The Denver Broncos are reportedly signing former Vikings QB Case Keenum, and felt more comfortable paying him less. The Cardinals and Jets are also reportedly very interested in Cousins, and there were crazy rumors about what the Jets were willing to pay Captain Kirk.
Everyone knows that Cousins is going to be paid or overpaid depending on your opinion of him. Drew Brees just signed a 2 year, $50 million extension with the Saints that breaks down to a 1 year deal worth $27 million with a team option. The salary cap continues to rise at more than $10m/year and the growth of QB salaries don’t show any signs of slowing. Several QBs are waiting on Cousins deal to sign their new contracts(Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers). A fully guaranteed deal could have other players looking for similar deals. The Redskins have Alex Smith locked up for 5 years after signing him to a 4-year, $94 million extension on top of the $17 million he is due this year. Full details of that deal won’t be available until tomorrow.
The Redskins have moved on from Kirk Cousins, and Kirk Cousins has definitely moved on from the Redskins.
HH
And this from Schefter:
Kirk Cousins is likely to sign with the Minnesota Vikings, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2018
“No final decisions have been made,” Cousins’ agent Mike McCartney said today. “The plan is to visit Minnesota first. That’s all we can say right now.”
There was some noise on Twitter that Cousins would be signing with the Vikings, but according to Rapoport and Schefter, it’s not a done deal just yet.
Stay tuned...
UPDATE:
Kirk Cousins plans to sign a three-year, fully-guaranteed contract from the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2018
From @nflnetwork: Not a done deal just yet between the #Vikings and Kirk Cousins. They've discussed contract parameters. Team operating in good faith, and there’s optimism this gets done. Cousins arrives for his first (and quite likely last) free-agent visit tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/1TiKn75dk1
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 13, 2018