Report: Kirk Cousins' logical play is to test NFL free agency

Kirk Cousins has a big decision to make ahead of NFL free agency, as do the Minnesota Vikings in the coming days.

With less than two weeks to go until free agency, Cousins could test the market and play for a new franchise if the Vikings elect to go in a different direction. That seems to be the move right now, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

While there’s mutual interest in staying together, Cousins and the Vikings might have different ideas about a new contract.

“The Cousins-Minnesota negotiation is nuanced, due in part to history,” Fowler wrote. “Cousins has spent six seasons with the club — that’s a lot of shared experience. Just 10 days from the new league year, Minnesota is at least loosely bracing for Cousins to test the negotiating window that begins on March 11, though there’s a lot of time left for the sides to continue talking. This close to free agency, waiting might be Cousins’ logical play — and one that essentially puts the team’s broader free agency plans on hold.”

Kirk Cousins to test NFL free agency?

If Cousins is back in Minnesota, the team could retool for “win-now” type pieces on offense. The Vikings were recently 13-4 in 2022 under first-year head coach Kevin O’Connell but struggled in 2023 after Cousins’ injury.

The recovery from an Achilles injury doesn’t seem to be as daunting like year’s past, but Cousins is getting up there in age for a quarterback (35 years old).

“Does Minnesota go younger at certain positions for long-term strength, or should it load up on immediate roster help now,” Fowler wrote. “The answer could depend on whether Cousins re-signs. As one high-ranking exec with another team said, the feeling is that Minnesota wants to extend Cousins but won’t live or die by that desire. It will have limits. And as you said, Dan, some people in the league believe Atlanta will pursue Cousins. As one NFL exec put it, that’s probably one of the best overall free agent fits out there.”

Cousins was well on his way to another great season statistically. In 2023, he threw for 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 69.5% completion percentage in just eight games.

Going 13-4 in 2022, Cousins threw for 4,547 yards, 29 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a 65.9% completion percentage.

For now, it remains to be seen what the Vikings will do, but the decision will set the course for the next few years at quarterback.