Next Ex-Viking Might Get the Kirk Cousins Treatment
About 14 months ago, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins said goodbye to the team that employed him for six seasons and paid him handsomely for all six campaigns. His tenure is controversial, as some say he played well and point to his numbers and Pro Bowls, while others suggest a good passer should’ve had more team success.
Next Ex-Viking Might Get the Kirk Cousins Treatment
Ultimately, the truth lies, as often, somewhere in the middle.
He moved to Atlanta to be their quarterback for four years, or at least for three, because he has a guaranteed salary for as many years. The Falcons, however, had a different idea and proceeded to draft his successor just a month and change after signing the four-time Pro Bowler.
Despite the immediate criticism of that path, it turns out that preparing for the future was a smart move as the ex-Viking was benched after 14 games for rookie Michael Penix Jr., who will keep the QB1 gig moving forward.
The Vikings turned to Sam Darnold as the immediate replacement, while also planning for the future by selecting J.J. McCarthy shortly after Penix Jr. went to Atlanta. Darnold exploded, having a Pro Bowl season and providing Skol Nation a fun year and a payday for himself. The Seahawks gave him a three-year deal worth $100.5 million.
After further review, that deal is only this sweet on paper and could quickly become a one-year deal for $37.5 million. The Seahawks smartly planned for the potential downfall of a quarterback that hadn’t done much in the league prior to his stint in Minnesota, and his play might have been elevated by QB whisperer Kevin O’Connell and teammates Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
And that’s not the only safety measure. The Seahawks also added quarterback Jalen Milroe in the draft. Milroe, out of Alabama, doesn’t match McCarthy’s and Penix Jr.’s draft pedigree as he was selected in the third round, but nobody cares about that if he develops into a serious replacement.
Suddenly, Darnold is under pressure to perform well in his first year as Geno Smith’s successor.
He’s coming off a season with 35 passing touchdowns and over 4,300 yards, leading the Vikings to a shocking 14-3 season. In the final two games of the year, he fell apart, looking more like the ghost-seeing quarterback from his Jets days rather than the gunslinger Pro Bowler. Surely, that played a role in his depressed market, allowing the Seahawks to offer him that fake three-year deal.
The good news for Darnold is that Milroe isn’t considered an immediate threat. He brings elite athleticism to the table, but his arm is still a project and not nearly NFL-ready. In the last couple of seasons, Milroe scored 32 rushing touchdowns and 39 through the air. Just last season, he had 16 passing touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Scary for Darnold is Milroe’s rushing line of 726 yards (note: lost sack yardage counts as negative rushing yards in college) and 20 touchdowns, and a 40-yard dash of 4.4. If he can develop some kind of throwing skills, Darnold will be in trouble. How far away that is remains to be seen.
Important for the Pro Bowler is to play well and keep the Seahawks in the mix. Then nobody will even contemplate replacing him.
The system will be a little different as Klint Kubik is calling the shots in Seattle. He led an explosive Saints offense early last season, but that fell apart once injuries piled up. The Seahawks also employ some respected receivers, led by third-year stud Jaxon Smith-Njigba and veteran Cooper Kupp, as well as an outstanding backfield around Kenneth Walker.
The Vikings faced Cousins last season and helped push him over the cliff; they can do the same with Darnold, as the Seahawks can be found on the schedule. It will be one of the more anticipated games on the menu.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference CFB helped with this article.
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