NFL insider has stunning contract prediction about Vikings' Kirk Cousins

It remains unknown if Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins will re-sign with Minnesota or join a different team in free agency. But ESPN's Field Yates revealed on Friday that he expects Cousins will get paid in a big way no matter where the veteran signal-caller signs. 

"No need to overthink this one, as Cousins is going to cash in once again, despite being just 4.5 months removed from a torn right Achilles," Yates explained. "He was playing outstanding football at the time of his injury and is the best free-agent quarterback available in a thin market and in a league with a bunch of teams desperate for an upgrade. If you told me that Cousins winds up signing a two-year, $100M fully guaranteed contract, I would not be stunned." 

According to Spotrac, Cousins has earned over $231M from his NFL contracts since the spring of 2012. That's impressive for a quarterback with a 1-3 career postseason record. 

There were whispers this past fall when Minnesota was 1-4 that suggested some within the Vikings considered trading Cousins at that time because he was set to hit free agency this month. While he helped the club get back to 4-4, the torn Achilles he suffered on Oct. 29 ended his season. 

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported earlier in the week that the Atlanta Falcons "have always been the top alternative to the Vikings for Cousins," in part because the 35-year-old's wife grew up in nearby Alpharetta, Georgia. Florio added that he had received "very credible indications that Cousins is seriously considering moving his family to Atlanta."

"...He was leading the league in touchdown passes and second in passing yards through Week 7 (was injured in Week 8) and is the surest thing among the free agent quarterbacks this offseason," Yates added about Cousins. 

According to ESPN stats, Cousins finished this past regular season ranked seventh in the NFL among qualified players with a 63.2 adjusted QBR and third with a 103.8 passer rating. Across eight games, he tossed 18 touchdown passes and five interceptions. 

Per Hunter Hodies of The Spun, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network indicated during a Friday appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show" that Cousins wants "to see what exactly the marketplace is out there" and could sign with a team as soon as next week. It sounds like Minnesota may have to come up with 100 million reasons to keep Cousins from relocating to Georgia ahead of the Easter holiday.