Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) and former Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (4) Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Former Vikings RB Dalvin Cook doesn't hold back on Kirk Cousins

Originally posted on NFL Analysis Network
By Kenneth Teape | Last updated 8/2/23

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins isn’t someone who always gets the kind of recognition that he deserves. While he may not be among the elite players at his position in the league, he is certainly more than capable of getting the job done week in and week out.

It is something that his teammates, current and former, are tired of hearing about. The most recent player to go to bat for Kirk Cousins was his former running back, Dalvin Cook. Cook was released by the Vikings earlier this offseason but he still has admiration for his former signal-caller.

“Per Cook, people continue to underestimate him despite his production always being there, and even though he’s kind of awkward at times, he’s still a leader, and that’s just the way he gets to be cool.” (H/T MSN)

"He's him."

"Thats *his* cool."@dalvincook speaks on former @Vikings teammate @KirkCousins8 pic.twitter.com/qayUk7uMP4
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) July 28, 2023

A big knock on him throughout his career was his inability to show up in crunch time. That was proven to be a fallacy during the 2022 season when he recorded a career-high eight fourth-quarter comebacks and eight come-from-behind wins. Both numbers also led the NFL for the season.

The 2022 season also marked the fourth Pro Bowl appearance for Kirk Cousins in his career. He completed 65.9% of his passes for 4,547 yards with 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

The Michigan State product is loving having Justin Jefferson as his No. 1 target. In three seasons, Jefferson has already cemented himself as the best wide receiver in the NFL, and Kirk Cousins is taking full advantage.

You can surround a quarterback with as much talent as possible, they still have to get the job done. While there are certainly some shortcomings to his game, Cousins is one of the most consistently productive quarterbacks in the NFL.

There are plenty of teams around the league that would benefit from having a signal-caller of his caliber running their offense. The Vikings falling short during the 2022 season was certainly not the doing of Kirk Cousins and the offense, as the defense faltering is what led to their disappointing end.

This article first appeared on NFL Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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