Kirk Cousins’ Cruel Irony
Kirk Cousins pursued major money because it would keep him employed in a single spot. He is now experiencing the downside of that basic reality while operating from within a prison of his own making.
Now, as far as prisons go, being in one where a person doesn’t need to show up for work while demanding an annual salary sitting at $45 million is a pretty good outcome. The downside is that we’re talking about a soon-to-be 37-year-old passer who is still chasing greatness. Genuinely, Cousins wants to win. He wants to prove capable of pushing a team toward a Super Bowl, but his recent benching and gargantuan deal are significant roadblocks.
Kirk Cousins and The Irony of His Job Security
PurplePTSD managing editor Janik Eckardt is the one who got me thinking of the topic.
In the past, Eckardt has discussed the issue, noting that one of the significant hurdles in moving Cousins is his contract (an obvious point, yes, but one that’s still worth exploring). In fact, the discussion came up recently. Check out the word: “In his second year under contract in the NFC South, [Cousins] desperately needs a fresh start elsewhere, but the Falcons have played hardball, and nobody wants to pay draft compensation and the salary for the aging passer after a season that ended with him on the bench rather than starting.”
Indeed, the primary issue is the money. If, for instance, Kirk Cousins had a $5 million price tag, then he would already be slinging the pigskin for a different team. The issue is that his annual average sits at $45 million.
Of course, some of that compensation would remain on Atlanta’s books. The acquiring team wouldn’t be inheriting a contract that perfectly mirrors the four-year, $180 million pact that originally got Cousins to bring his family down to Georgia.
The basic idea still shines through, however: any team that makes a trade for Kirk Cousins will be forfeiting an asset — i.e. a draft pick(s) — for an older passer who was recently benched, who was recently recovering from major injury, and who has had zero meaningful team success in his NFL career. Oh, and the cap commitment will still be beefy.
Maybe understandably, the NFL has been a bit hesitant.
Prior to officially leaving the Vikings, Kirk Cousins chatted with the Minnesota media. Within the discussion, Cousins clarified what was important about the contract: “‘It’s not about the dollars, but it is about what the dollars represent.'” Do note that the quarterback is relaying these words, reflecting on what a previous coach told him about NFL contracts.
Dig in a bit.
One possible takeaway is that a hearty financial commitment — what the dollars represent — signals a team’s belief in that passer. Guaranteeing a ton of money is a way for a team to take tangible action, a move that says more than words ever could. The message: by guaranteeing so much, we are committed to you. Kirk Cousins was interested in that sort of thing. The commitment is now hindering his ability to move on.
Last season, the veteran completed an impressive 66.9% of his passes for 3,508 yards. The main problem was the 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, a near 1-to-1 ratio that largely undermined his chance to stick within the starting lineup.
The possibility exists that he spends the 2025 season on the bench in Atlanta, burning off one of his final seasons in the NFL.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and Bluesky (@VikingsGazette). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.
