Vikings' Zimmer backs Cousins amid trade speculation

Oct 11, 2020; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer stands with quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during a fourth quarter time out against the Seattle Seahawks. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer backs Kirk Cousins amid trade speculation

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 2/5/21

There has been speculation that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins will be on the chopping block this offseason. However, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer appeared to deny those rumors on Friday.

During an appearance on "Good Morning Football," Zimmer backed Cousins, saying the signal-caller had a great season in 2020 despite the team going 7-9.

.@Vikings HC Mike Zimmer on @gmfb @nflnetwork on QB Kirk Cousins: "Kirk's our guy. He had a terrific year this year. We have to get better on defense and that's my job to get it fixed." #SKOL
— Will Selva (@WillSelvaTV) February 5, 2021

In his third season with the Vikings, Cousins completed 67.6% of his passes for 4,265 yards and a career-high 35 touchdowns against 13 interceptions.

With many players on Minnesota's roster aging and a lack of cap space, the Vikings could be facing a rebuild. Trading Cousins would save the Vikings $10 million of his $31 million cap hit. If the 32-year-old is on the roster on March 19, his $35 million salary for 2022 becomes fully guaranteed.

It's unclear who the Vikings may target if they trade Cousins. Minnesota owns the 14th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, so they could select a quarterback, but the top players at the position could be gone by that point.

More must-reads: