Following the Minnesota Vikings’ season conclusion in January, Kirk Cousins faced inquiries regarding a potential new contract. When asked if financial aspects or other terms were his primary concern, he skillfully sidestepped the questions. Cousins emphasized that non-monetary elements of a new agreement held significant weight for him. He referenced a past conversation with another player, highlighting that it’s not merely about the money but what it signifies. Essentially, higher financial commitments from the organization often correlate with a stronger commitment to the player from the team, indicating a deeper trust and investment in their capabilities.

Months passed, and despite some degree of tampering, the Vikings and Cousins found themselves at an impasse regarding the contract negotiations that had lingered for over a year. The guaranteed money and the proposed length of the new deal from the Vikings did not align with Cousins’ expectations. Instead, he was seeking a contract that reflected his full market value, complete with two years’ worth of guaranteed money and a duration that would comfortably lead him to retirement, ensuring his financial security and long-term stability.

Ultimately, the Atlanta Falcons stepped in, signing Cousins to a lucrative four-year, $180 million contract, which included $100 million guaranteed. This figure positioned him as the sixth highest-paid player in NFL history by the conclusion of the 2024 season. Notably, only Russell Wilson has accumulated more earnings over a similar or shorter span than Cousins, underscoring the financial stakes involved in his new contract and the expectations that come with such an investment.

In a surprising turn of events, Cousins later revealed that the Vikings intended to draft a top quarterback and were primarily exploring options for a one-year deal with him. This revelation highlighted the contrasting priorities of the Vikings and Cousins, indicating that while he was looking for long-term security, the team was focused on future planning.

Cousins’ Unexpected Reactions to the Falcons’ Decisions

After Cousins officially joined the Falcons, his initial comments sparked a tampering investigation. This led to significant repercussions, including the loss of a fifth-round draft pick for the Falcons, a $250,000 team fine, and a $50,000 fine levied against Falcons’ GM Terry Fontenot. These events served as a reminder that substantial financial commitments do not always equate to a correspondingly high level of commitment from the franchise to its players.

Just before the Falcons were set to announce their first-round draft pick, Cousins received the shocking news that the team would be selecting a quarterback with their first-round choice—Michael Penix Jr. This unexpected decision left Cousins visibly stunned and caught completely off guard, revealing the uncertainty surrounding his position as the team’s starting quarterback.

Ultimately, it became clear that the Falcons were no more committed to Cousins than the Vikings had been. The Vikings had simply been more forthright about their intentions, leaving Cousins in a precarious position.

Vikings Shift Focus to Future Plans

As the 2024 NFL Combine drew to a close in February, head coach Kevin O’Connell provided an interview that suggested the Vikings were unlikely to extend Kirk Cousins’ contract. He spoke about the rampant tampering taking place at the Combine, where agents and teams actively negotiate contracts that often get agreed upon in a matter of minutes once the “legal” tampering period commences before free agency begins in mid-March. This admission hinted at the Vikings’ shift in strategy as they prepared for the future.

During this active period, the Vikings made headlines by presenting a $10 million offer to Sam Darnold just a day after the Falcons finalized their deal with Cousins. The Vikings were clearly focused on securing Darnold’s services, indicating their desire to outbid the Broncos for his potential signing, showcasing their commitment to strengthening their quarterback position.

In a bold move, the Vikings proceeded to draft a top quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, confirming their intentions to both Cousins and Darnold. Coach O’Connell made it clear that Darnold was slated to be their starting quarterback for the upcoming season. Darnold was on the verge of receiving first-team reps in practice when he suffered a torn meniscus that placed him on IR, inadvertently solidifying his role as the undisputed starter for the season.

Darnold capitalized on this opportunity, thriving in the Minnesota offense that Cousins had turned down, enjoying a career year across every significant metric and dramatically outperforming Cousins throughout the season.

Cousins Faces Challenges in Atlanta After Surprising Draft Choices

In contrast, Kirk Cousins has struggled to meet expectations in Atlanta. After the shock of the Falcons selecting Michael Penix Jr. during the draft, his performance this season has only reinforced the rationale behind that decision. The pressure on him has intensified as he tries to regain his footing.

Cousins currently leads the league in both fumbles and interceptions after 13 weeks, indicating significant struggles. His critical passing metrics have notably declined, with only four games this season where his passer rating exceeded 100. Metrics such as passer rating, QBR, ANY/A, adjusted completion percentage, and overall PFF grades have all seen marked decreases, raising concerns about his performance.

From my observations of several of Cousins’ games this season, including his recent matchup against the Chargers, it’s evident that he is beginning to lose his edge. While he hasn’t completely lost his abilities, it appears that he is exerting more effort for each throw. Without a more concerted effort, his passes seem to lack the velocity they once had. Several of his longer throws have fallen short, and some of his throws on out routes appear alarmingly sluggish. His interception on an out route against the Chargers was not only a poor decision but also lacked the necessary speed, allowing the defensive back to easily intercept it.

Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has casually mentioned age in discussions about extending contracts for Cousins and Danielle Hunter. While both players are in excellent shape, he indicated the inherent difficulty in predicting when age might begin to affect a player’s performance. Although Hunter appears to be aging gracefully, Cousins’ consistent commitment to maintaining his physical condition seems to be catching up with him this season.

Upcoming Matchup and Speculations for the Future

After last weekend’s defeat to the Chargers, where Cousins threw four interceptions, the Falcons have suffered their third consecutive loss. The team has transitioned from a 6-3 record with a commanding lead in the weak NFC South to a precarious 6-6, now fighting with the Buccaneers for the division title and a playoff spot. Cousins’ average passer rating during this losing streak has plummeted to 61.3, raising questions about his ability to lead the team moving forward.

If Cousins has another poor performance against the Vikings, there’s a possibility he could be benched in favor of Penix as the Falcons seek to rejuvenate their playoff aspirations while considering their quarterback of the future. The Falcons’ offense primarily revolves around handing the ball off to Bijan Robinson and executing a short play-action passing game, which is not overly demanding for a rookie quarterback.

Should Cousins find himself benched, the Falcons would face a significant dead cap hit by cutting him loose next year. In such a scenario, it remains uncertain whether Cousins would pursue another opportunity with a different team—likely for significantly less money—or choose to retire from the sport altogether. There’s a realistic chance that Sunday’s game at United States Bank Stadium could be Cousins’ last in the NFL.

For the Vikings, their decision to move on appears to have worked in their favor. They transitioned from Cousins to improved performance from Darnold, all while managing a financial structure that totaled $38.5 million when accounting for Cousins’ dead cap hit and Darnold’s space year cap hit in 2025. This strategic shift has enabled them to maximize salary cap space moving forward, allowing them to pursue key players like Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, Aaron Jones, and Stephon Gilmore this season, and likely attract more high-profile free agents in the upcoming year.

The extent of the Vikings’ success in the playoffs remains to be seen. However, had they managed to secure Cousins for another season, it likely would have resulted in a lackluster performance, given his struggles this year with the Falcons. The Vikings could have found themselves on the playoff bubble, facing an early exit if they made it to the postseason, while their salary cap situation for the following year would have been less favorable.