Former NFL GM gives Vikings advice about Kirk Cousins

Former NFL general manager and current ESPN personality Mike Tannenbaum believes the Minnesota Vikings should think twice before they let polarizing quarterback Kirk Cousins reach free agency in March 2024. 

"We can argue about whether Kirk is a great player," Tannenbaum recently told Kevin Seifert and Nick Wagoner of ESPN. "But he's definitely a good, solid player, and I know I'd be hard-pressed to let him walk out the door. One thing we always talk about with players is that while they're not perfect, who is coming in the door to replace them and how much is it going to cost to do that?"

Cousins turned 35 years old in August, is on track to reach free agency after the season and became the subject of numerous rumors after the Vikings began the campaign at 1-4 and will be without star wide receiver Justin Jefferson through the Oct. 31 trade deadline because of a hamstring injury. Interestingly, Cousins neither confirmed nor denied before Minnesota beat the Chicago Bears in Week 6 if he'd consider waiving his no-trade clause to join a contender this fall. 

Jefferson previously made it known that he "would love to have Kirk and continue my journey with Kirk" beyond this season. The 2-4 Vikings, meanwhile, have 2023 fifth-round draft pick Jaren Hall listed as Cousins' primary backup heading into Monday night's matchup versus the 5-1 San Francisco 49ers. 

Tannenbaum added the Vikings should look to both bring Cousins back and draft a hoped-to-be future franchise signal-caller as soon as next spring. 

"I think the way our game is going, you can't have enough of them," Tannenbaum said about quarterbacks. "I would be hard-pressed not to say, 'Hey, here's whatever the number is, whether it's $80 [million], $85 [million], $90 million for two years, do that for Cousins, and draft his successor."

According to ESPN stats, Cousins began Monday ranked 16th in the NFL among qualified players with a 55.9 adjusted QBR and sixth with a 100.6 passer rating on the season. He tossed 14 touchdown passes and four interceptions over Minnesota's first six contests.