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Kirk Cousins now has enough leverage. He will have more later – and then he apparently intends to use it.
In a recent visit to PFT PM, Cousins made two things clear about his future with the Vikings. First, he wants to complete his career in Minnesota. Secondly, he is content to play out the two remaining years of his contract. This inevitably makes his status uncertain after 2022 with the Vikings.
“I want to be with the Vikings as long as they want me and as long as I can play football,” Cousins said. “How long I play, it’s like that year after year. We’ve seen so many changes happen in this league if you look back now just a year ago. I’m sure a year from now will not be any different. Tom Brady, Drew Brees played the bar so high until their early 40s. I do not know that I want to play for that long, but I think I can play in your late thirties and play long enough for my two young sons – I have two sons, Cooper and Turner. They are only three and almost two. I like to play long enough where they can come practice, see how I play, and really remember and appreciate it. I still have a few years to do it. ”
Yet Cousins currently has only two years under contract. Since a base salary of $ 35 million for 2022 is fully guaranteed on March 19, it may make sense to extend the contract now. It makes a lot more sense next year. Cousins sounds like he’s not ready to make a new deal in the off-season.
“Honestly, I just signed the extension last season, and it only starts next year,” Cousins said. “It’s a two-year deal. These two years begin with 2021.. . I think it’s more about going out there next season and the year after that and playing at a high enough level that justifies being able to do another deal beyond that. This is really where my focus is. Like I said before, I want to be a Viking for the rest of my career. I have to play well enough to make it happen. ”
The current agreement of Cousins has no clause. But he does not need one. With a maximum amount of $ 45 million in 2022 and with the franchise rule guaranteeing him a bump of 44 percent for 2023 (the two applications of the franchise label are being transferred by Washington with the goal of making the ultra expensive third franchise label), would cost the Vikings $ 64.8 million to apply the franchise label after its contract expired.
In other words, Cousins - who maximized his leverage by playing in Washington annually in 2015, 2016 and 2017 – sounds set to earn $ 56 million over the next two years and then reach the open market, or to negotiate his next contract with the Vikings, knowing that he has a guaranteed way to the open market if the Vikings do not offer him what he wants.
This attitude gives the Vikings even more reason to consider him honestly. However, coach Mike Zimmer needs Cousins, because without Cousins, the Vikings are likely to take the kind of step backwards that will increase the likelihood that Zimmer will not last longer than 2021.