Kirk Cousins just needed one day to address his Minnesota Vikings future, the day after the regular-season finale.
While the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is expected to attract heavy interest in the free agent market, he already has let it be known what he’s seeking out of his 2024 deal.
Kirk Cousins Open to ‘Hometown Discount’
On a day teams allow their players to clean out their lockers for the offseason, Cousins told reporters his visions for his next contract.
“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,” Cousins said.
This statement will win over fans of the purple and gold. He’s open to a hometown discount. Cousins even reflected back to a previous conversation he had with a past coach of his.
“I had a coach who I was with who was a younger coach at the time,” Cousins said. “This was back eight, nine years ago, before my first franchise tag [with Washington], and we were talking about the situation, and he made a great comment.
“He said, ‘Kirk, it’s not about the dollars, but it is about what the dollars represent.’ I thought that was an interesting comment that he made. There will always be some of that.”
What Else Is Cousins Seeking in 2024?
While Cousins is clearly hoping for an extended stay in the Twin Cities, he’s also seeking one more element in his next 2024 deal.
“Structure is probably more important,” Cousins said.
When elaborating on the “S” word in that sentence, Cousins refused to allow money to be a deciding factor.
MORE: Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart
“Everything that isn’t the dollars. That stuff you also work through,” Cousins said.
Should Cousins opt to stay put in Minnesota, he’ll likely see a drastic change from the $35 million he gets paid per season. The Vikings currently have $37,296,185 in cap space for 2024. Minnesota will more than likely aim to restructure some deals to free up even more space.
Vikings GM Addressed Cousins Situation During Season
The man who will help key Cousins’ future in Minnesota is general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Back in the middle part of the 2023 season, Adofo-Mensah got the chance to address Cousins’ future with reporters following his devastating ACL tear that wiped away his season.
“I mean, Kirk played great,” Adofo-Mensah said after Week 8. “I think my want for Kirk to come back isn’t just a ‘me’ thing. You know, it’s a negotiation. You come together at the table, and you try and see if everything works together, and we’ll have that dialogue when the time comes.”
That time is likely coming soon, as the Vikings will not be heading to the postseason after finishing a disappointing 7-10 overall, including losing their final four games and being removed from playoff contention.
Cousins is PFN’s No. 1 ranked free agent quarterback ahead of the March 2024 free agency cycle. PFN’s Dallas Robinson believes that Cousins’ Achilles tear will impact his market.
“Although starting-caliber quarterbacks rarely reach free agency, Kirk Cousins will be available. His Achilles injury might reduce his market value, and he may simply re-sign with the Minnesota Vikings, but Cousins will be the best QB on the market,” Robinson wrote.
If Cousins heads toward a mutual separation with the Vikings, he’ll end his career with 23,265 yards, 171 touchdowns, and 55 interceptions. He also went 50-37-1 as the Vikings starter.
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