Cousins Agrees To 4-year Contract With Falcons, Leaving Vikings To Look For New QB

Kirk Cousins is leaving Minnesota for Atlanta, touchdown one other large contract with a well-timed foray into free company.

Cousins agreed Monday to a four-year cope with the Falcons, his agent Mike McCartney introduced on social media. Atlanta had a obvious want at quarterback after biking by means of Tyler Heinicke and Desmond Ridder final season, and Cousins’ spouse, Julie, grew up within the metro space.

Working his manner again from a torn Achilles tendon in his proper foot that sidelined him due to an damage for the primary time in his profession, Cousins had a 103.8 passer ranking in eight video games for the Vikings final season that was nonetheless the third finest within the league regardless of the misplaced time.

The epitome of a late bloomer, Cousins loved largely the best performances of his profession for the reason that Vikings employed coach Kevin O’Connell in 2022.

They have been going to want a succession plan no matter how this negotiation performed out, although, contemplating Cousins’ age and their dedication to a “aggressive rebuild,” as basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has termed it a number of instances.

The Vikings have been critical of their want to proceed with Cousins, however given their cap scenario and the current enchancment and outlook round them by their NFC North foes they needed to have a restrict about how a lot — and for the way lengthy — they might assure.

Cousins, for as a lot as he wished to complete his profession with Minnesota, he additionally made clear he wished to be valued with a dedication past a token yr.

“It’s not concerning the {dollars}, however what the {dollars} signify,” was how Cousins put it in an interview with reporters on Jan. 8.

Cousins has not solely been the consummate overachiever on the sphere, from afterthought school recruit to fourth-round draft decide to at the moment twenty fourth place on the NFL’s all-time checklist in profession passing yards (39,471), however he has mastered the enterprise aspect of the sport with the steering of his agent Mike McCartney.

After enjoying on consecutive franchise tags for Washington in 2016 and 2017, Cousins cashed in because the uncommon beginning quarterback to hit free company in 2018 when the Vikings had wage cap house and a urgent want on the place after an NFC championship sport look. He received the primary totally assured, multi-year contract in league historical past for a quarterback when he signed for $84 million.

Simply over the previous eight seasons, Cousins has earned greater than $228 million. He has received just one playoff sport, after the 2019 season.

The Vikings restructured Cousins’ deal a yr in the past with out giving him any new cash, leading to a $28.5 million wage cap hit in 2024 for the remaining signing bonus proration in the event that they didn’t attain an extension earlier than the brand new league yr formally begins on Wednesday afternoon.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Related Press)