Analyst believes Vikings must pick between keeping franchise QB or All-Pro WR
The Vikings have a couple of difficult decisions to make this offseason with QB Kirk Cousins set to become a free agent and WR Justin Jefferson looking to get paid.
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky believes Minnesota is going to have to pick between the two with just $24.91M in cap space, according to Pro Football Focus.
"You're not gonna be able to afford both Justin at a high number and Kirk Cousins at the number that he's probably gonna be able to command in free agency," Orlovsky said on "The Pat McAfee Show."
It's a very difficult decision as both players have played large roles in the Vikings' success over the past few years. But Orlovsky thinks the choice is an obvious one.
"I've said for like a year now, what's the number one way to keep Justin," Orlovsky added. "Like that's the only thing that matters and that's why I think you're gonna at some point have to make a jump with quarterback as good of a player as Kirk is."
Orlovsky makes a point. Jefferson, who is still only 24, is arguably the best wide receiver in the league after posting 392 catches for 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns from 2020-23. And he could very well surpass Dolphins' Tyreek Hill as the highest-paid wide receiver in the league at $30-plus million per year.
Cousins, on the other hand, will be 36 by the start of next season and is coming off a torn Achilles.
Nonetheless, the 13-year veteran will still likely garner interest from several teams after passing for 23,265 yards, 171 touchdowns and 55 interceptions since joining Minnesota in 2018.
According to Spotrac, Cousins should receive a three-year, $118.14M deal ($39.3M per year), which Orlovsky believes is just too much and could force the team to make a move in the 2024 NFL Draft.
"Minnesota's gonna have to make a move at quarterback. Like last year, they tried to go up to get Anthony [Richardson]," Orlovsky finished. "I could see them moving up again this year."
This year seems to be as good as ever to go for a rookie quarterback. The 2024 draft class is rich with quarterback talent as five QBs rank in the top 30 prospects on PFF's big board.
However, nobody is envying the Vikings this offseason and one lucky team may just land Cousins if Orlovsky is right in his prediction.
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