Kirk Cousins was playing at an All-Pro level midway through the 2023 season before suffering an Achilles injury. While the season-ending Achilles tear is expected to impact his potential earning power in 2024, it seemingly won’t hurt his level of interest in NFL free agency.
Cousins, turning 36 in August, is expected to make a full recovery from his Achilles tear in time for the 2024 NFL season. While a majority of quarterback-needy teams are focused on addressing the position via the 2024 NFL Draft, a few have their eyes set on Cousins.
- Kirk Cousins stats (2023): 103.8 QB rating, 69.5% completion rate, 18-5 TD-INT, 7.5 yards per attempt
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A fourth-round pick in 2012, the former 102nd overall pick has gone on to earn four Pro Bowl selections, including three with the Minnesota Vikings. He is also tied with the NFL record for most game-winning drives (eight) in a single season.
Before his Achilles tear, COusins’ was performing at a career-best level. The lengthy recovery from the injury paired with his age will limit the types of contracts he’s offered in NFL free agency. However, two teams are expected to be firmly in the mix to land him.
Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team recently disclosed that he believes the market for Cousins will come down to the Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons in free agency.
- Kirk Cousins career stats: 98.2 QB rating, 39,741 passing yards, 270 passing touchdowns, 66.9 percent completion rate, 7.6 yards per attempt
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Cousins thrived in Kevin O’Connell’s system, displaying complete command of a complex offense last season. Similar to Sean McVay’s system, O’Connell’s scheme takes years to master and the Vikings’ head coach loved the point Cousins reached with his mastery of the offense in 2023.
Notably, new Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson comes from the same McVay coaching tree as O’Connell. Furthermore, Cousins’ wife is originally from Atlanta and it’s believed that he would prefer to play in a domed stadium.
While the Vikings are heavily interested in re-signing Cousins, Minnesota has been heavily connected to the 2024 NFL Draft quarterback class with a strong desire to find a long-term answer at the position. If the Vikings show any hesitancy over a long-term deal, it’s possible the Falcons in win-now mode could come out on top of the bidding war for Cousins this offseason.
