Kirk Cousins overcame a season-ending injury to change the scene and make a new attempt in the NFL. The quarterback recovered from the injury that ended his 2023 season in Week 8, just in time to sign a million-dollar multi-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
Cousins had six good seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. Since he arrived in 2018, the Michigan State product led the Vikings to the postseason twice, was called to the Pro Bowl three times, and leaves the team with a record of 50 wins, 37 losses, and one tie.
The 2023 season was one of ups and downs for Cousins and Minnesota. Before his injury, he had a 4-4 record, with 2,331 yards gained, 216 completions of 311 attempts, 18 touchdown passes, and five interceptions.
Following the 12-year veteran’s injury, the Vikings attempted to alternate Josh Dobbs and Jaren Hall at the helm of the offense but finished the second half of the season 3-6, 7-9 overall.
Cousins’ arrival in Atlanta
Cousins’ departure from Minnesota couldn’t have come at a better time for the Falcons. The departure of Arthur Smith a few weeks ago and the arrival of Raheem Morris as head coach opened the possibility of hiring the former Washington Redskins quarterback.
As soon as the NFL schedule allowed, Atlanta extended Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract, according to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. Mike McCartney, Cousins’ representative, confirmed the agreement without disclosing financial details.
Analysts believe that third-year quarterback Desmond Ridder will be Cousins’ backup after two bad years in charge of the offense. The arrival of Cousins would not leave room for veteran Taylor Heinecke, who failed to earn Morris’ trust despite having replaced Ridder on multiple occasions.
There was no agreement with Minnesota
Most analysts expected that Cousins and the Vikings would reach an agreement. However, since the Scouting Combine, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah showed that negotiations were not as smooth as was predicted.
In a statement released today, Adofo-Mensah admitted that talks with Cousins and McCartney had not been fruitful. “After significant and positive dialogue with Kirk and his representatives, we were unable to reach agreement on a contract that fits the short and long-term visions for both Kirk and the Minnesota Vikings,”Adofo-Mensah said.
He also assured that the team already had alternative plans in case Cousins preferred to explore free agency. “We are moving forward with plans that allow us to continue building a roster that can compete for a championship,” explained the Vikings general manager.
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