Kirk Cousins Just Made More Money
Let’s look back seven years. The Minnesota Vikings are just coming off a season with a 13-3 record and a trip to the NFC Championship Game behind an elite defense led by Mike Zimmer and Case Keenum’s offense. GM Rick Spielman wants to upgrade the quarterback position and acquire Kirk Cousins rather than running it back with Keenum.
Kirk Cousins Just Made More Money
Seven years later, Cousins is one of the most polarizing players in football, and Skol Nation was pretty divided during his tenure. But one thing can’t be denied: He was a solid quarterback for the franchise and undoubtedly an upgrade over Keenum, with 171 touchdowns and 55 INTs in his time in Minnesota, while Keenum has long returned to his role as a journeyman backup.
His critics always pointed at the contracts and the cap hits, and there’s some truth to it, too. The Vikings ultimately paid him $185 million for six seasons, and Cousins has become one of the highest-paid NFL players of all time, currently ranking sixth. Almost a decade of above-average play in a rising salary cap landscape helped him get there.
On Saturday, Cousins made some more money, $10 million to be exact. He has a 2026 roster bonus that triggered Saturday, guaranteeing him that money next season. And despite being ousted as Atlanta’s QB1, the franchise will accept that disadvantage instead of moving on now.
Adam Schefter reported, “Sources: The Falcons officially will be keeping QB Kirk Cousins on their roster past 4 PM eastern today, triggering a guarantee on a $10M roster bonus that is due in 2026, sources told ESPN’s Field Yates and me.”
Following a 2023 campaign that looked like his magnum opus for a while but ended with him suffering a torn Achilles tendon, Cousins left Minnesota to sign with the Falcons. Atlanta needed a QB upgrade after wasting every season since the Matt Ryan days with subpar QB play, so spending big to bring the four-time Pro Bowler to Atlanta was understandable.
Then the Falcons inexplicably drafted Michael Penix Jr., a move many criticized. Penix Jr. was expected to sit for two seasons or more, but he entered the lineup in his rookie season when Cousins had struggled for a few weeks, including a terrible stretch with one passing touchdown and nine interceptions.
Throughout the offseason, there were trade rumors surrounding Cousins, and even straight-up cutting him was a serious conversation. Falcons GM Terry Fontenot always emphasized that he wouldn’t be cut and could remain as QB2, but folks didn’t buy it.
Tom Pelissero tweeted after the bonus news, “Falcons GM Terry Fontenot has said repeatedly that the team planned to proceed with Kirk Cousins on the roster. That stance hasn’t changed. Cousins would need to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate any trade, and to this point, Atlanta has shown no motivation to move him.”
It’s fair to assume that Cousins would waive his no-trade clause to start elsewhere. Teams like the Browns, Steelers, and Giants might be willing to take a flier, especially those missing out on Aaron Rodgers’ services.
The QB will turn 37 in August. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made the right decision by letting him walk instead of outbidding the Falcons.
In Vikings franchise history, Cousins ranks third in passing yards and second in passing touchdowns.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt