New Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell 'excited' to coach QB Kirk Cousins

As ESPN's Courtney Cronin, Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler explained for a piece published Thursday morning, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is signed through the 2022 season on a contract that carries a $45 million salary-cap hit and a $35 million base salary that's already been fully guaranteed. Thus, it's up to Cousins to decide if he wants to restructure the agreement via an extension, remain on his deal through the offseason or work with the Vikings on a potential trade. 

As had been expected, Minnesota confirmed earlier this week ex-Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell will be the club's next head coach coming off the Rams' Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. O’Connell met with media members on Thursday and suggested he's not anticipating making a big change at the sport's most important position either before or after the upcoming NFL Draft. 

"I know he’s under contract and I’m excited to coach him," O’Connell said of Cousins, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "We’ve already started thinking about how we’re going to build those systems for him and our other quarterbacks. I’m anticipating Kirk being a part of what we do." 

Per ESPN stats, Cousins finished the 2021 regular season tied for fourth among eligible quarterbacks with a 103.1 passer rating, 15th with a 52.3 total QBR and ninth with 4,221 passing yards and 33 touchdowns through the air. He was intercepted seven times across 16 games.