The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly received a phone call from the Carolina Panthers inquiring about the availability of quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Judd Zulgad of SKOR North broke the news on Monday during an episode of the “Purple Daily” podcast.
“They have gotten a call. Now, from what I’ve heard, it went nowhere so far,” Zulgad said. “But it’s interesting that the phone did ring at TCO [Stadium] in Eagen and on the other end of the line, the Carolina Panthers.
“Quarterback-desperate. Panicked, I’m sure. I think if Matt Rhule and the Panthers don’t have a successful 2022, he’s probably going to be fired because that has not worked out. They cast their lot in 2021 with Sam Darnold—didn’t work out. Now, the Vikings supposedly said, ‘Hey, let’s put a pin in that conversation. We don’t plan to move him now.’”
Whether the Vikings decide to move Cousins or not will ultimately come down to the contract negotiations.
The 33-year-old quarterback is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2023 unless his deal is extended. So the Vikings risk losing him for nothing if they simply allow things to play out in its current state.
The three-time Pro Bowler has shown himself to be a savvy businessman at the negotiating table in the past, and he doesn’t have a history of agreeing to pay cuts to alleviate the pressure on a cap-strapped team. Just look at the mess that played out with the Washington Commanders, who placed back-to-back franchise tags on him just so he could walk out the door to the awaiting Vikings.
Cousins is set to count $45 million against the salary cap, which is the third-highest hit among NFL quarterbacks. Many would argue he isn’t worth the price considering he isn’t necessarily one of the elite players at his position. Sure, he’s clearly a very talented player, but it’s a tough argument that he’s worthy of taking up 21.2 percent of the Vikings’ entire cap situation.
Even a friendship with newly-hired Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell might not be enough to salvage this relationship.
While the Vikings are trying to dig themselves out of cap hell, there are clearly other teams out there interested in a quarterback that just threw for 4,221 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Cousins knows his worth, and as he’s clearly shown in the past, he isn’t afraid of exploring it.
