3 QB targets if the Vikings leave the cousins

by



[ad_1]

Kirk Cousins ​​is once again a hero.

Vikings fans have oscillated between “love” and “hate” for the majority of Cousins’ tenure in Minnesota, and right now the collective consciousness is firmly positioned on “love.”

In just 30 minutes at US Bank Stadium, Kirk Cousins ​​and the Vikings have gone sloppy, ineffective, and without a doubt. outside from the playoff race, to just one game back from a Wild Card spot.

As mistakes plagued the Vikings all afternoon against the Panthers, Cousins ​​led the eventual winning crescendo of the game. With 1:51 to go in the game, he went 6-7 for 75 yards and the decisive touchdown in just over a minute of playing time.

And don’t look now, but after bouncing back from a horrific start to the season, Cousins ​​is quietly playing some of the best football of his career.

Barring a miraculous performance from Ben Roethlisberger in the still-delayed Steelers-Ravens game, Cousins ​​currently ranks:

First in the NFL in 4e quarter passer rating,

First in the NFL in 4e quarter pass touchdowns,

And first in the NFL in 4e touched by quarter pass when the score is less than seven points.

While Cousins ​​certainly performs exceptionally well, questions remain about his future with the Vikings. As it stands, three options are possible.

First, the Vikings are sitting around and eating his projected cap of $ 45 million in 2022. Based on today’s numbers, that would make him the league’s highest-paid quarterback at 34.

Second, the Vikings extend Cousins ​​again. Cut that $ 45 million down the road and financially tie Cousins ​​to the Vikings until he’s presumably 36 or 37.

Third, the Vikings are trading cousins ​​this offseason.

If the Vikings decide to trade him after this season, for example Athletic, the team that will face Cousins ​​would essentially net him $ 28 million a year for two years, a very solid contract for a quarterback playing some of the best football of his career.

So let me explore the hypothetical: The alternate universe in which Vikings general manager Rick Spielman decides to offload Cousins ​​a year after his contract extension, selects the hopeful quarterback of the future in this year’s draft and is targeting a quarterback free agent “bridge” to keep the team competitive while the rookie quarterback develops.

If you’re skeptical, this could happen – and rightly so – just remember that Spielman traded and then traded Yannick Ngakoue in just under two months. Perhaps this is more plausible than you think?

Before continuing, there are three rules:

  1. If the Vikings trade cousins, once again, that means they’ll no doubt pick what they hope will be the quarterback of the future in the 2021 NFL Draft. Quarterbacks on this list are not preliminary targets, but potential free agent signatures to act as quarterbacks.
  2. If the team trades Cousins, they will be left with a $ 20 million dead cap for the 2021 season (but they will be totally rid of Cousins’ money by 2022). Therefore, the quarterback options should be quite affordable.
  3. The options should help the team to remain competitive.

Ryan fitzpatrick

Age: 38

Current state: Starter / Backup

Projected contract: $ 6-10 million per year

The 38-year-old veteran has proven time and time again that he still has plenty of gas in the tank.

Before being benched for future Dolphins prospect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the dying minutes of Week 6, Fitzpatrick was playing as a bona fide starting quarterback.

Going 3-3 including three wins in all four games before he was substituted, Fitzpatrick threw for 256 yards per game, with 10 TDS, 7 INT and a 70% completion percentage.

Fitzpatrick would be a perfect mix of skills:

Fortification of changing rooms:

And mentoring:

Not to mention, Fitzpatrick just led the Dolphins to a win last week with Tagovailoa out, going 24-39 with 257 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions.

With a contract of no more than $ 10 million per year, the Vikings would still come out ahead financially, even after the $ 20 million dead cap due to the cousins’ hypothetical trade.

Cam Newton

Age: 31

Current status: Starter

Projected contract: $ 10 to 20 million per year

Cam Newton signed a one-year, $ 1,750,000 “prove it” contract with the Patriots last offseason, and the year is not going as Newton would have hoped.

After injury and being snubbed by a number of needy quarterback teams, this was the year Newton hoped to get back into “respected starter” territory. Instead, the Patriots wavered to a 5-6 record, with Newton looking out of place and uncomfortable on several occasions throughout the season.

Despite the current problems in New England, the Vikings could be an intriguing candidate for a variety of reasons.

For starters, it’s hard to see Newton order a big contract after this lackluster year with New England. You would think that if he didn’t get successful offers this last offseason, he certainly wouldn’t get them this offseason.

Second, he’s a notoriously formidable leader and teammate.

Third, it’s hard not to salivate at the Vikings’ potential offensive exit with Newton at the helm.

Can you imagine the offensive possibilities of RPO with a Cam Newton rover, Dalvin Cook in the backfield and Adam Theilen and Justin Jefferson as targets?

Newton has lost a step since terrorizing the league, but his lack of playmakers in the New England offense doesn’t help showcase his talents. A weapon-filled Vikings attack could help Newton rejuvenate his career.

Jacoby Brissett

Age: 27

Current state: backup

Projected contract: $ 10-18 million per year

Once upon a time, Brissett was considered the alleged heir to Tom Brady in New England.

Moving to Indianapolis in 2017, Brissett had the chance to prove himself as a franchise quarterback for the 2019 season after Andrew Luck abruptly retired just before Week 1. What followed n wasn’t exactly a successful season – and probably why the Colts signed Phillip Rivers this offseason – but it wasn’t really horrible, Is.

As a starter, Brissett led the team to a 7-8 record, amassing just under 3,200 total yards, 22 total touchdowns and six interceptions.

And now, as Rivers’ replacement, the Colts have started incorporating him into the attack in creative and effective ways. Brissett has made three touchdowns in the past three weeks and has impressed in limited action with plays like this:

And that:

Once again, Brissett has limited action this year, but PFF currently ranks him 14e among all quarters.

The only problem: We don’t know what the Colts intend to do with their quarterback situation. Starter Phillip Rivers and Brissett are both free agents after this year, and only time will tell if the team re-signs Rivers, Brissett, or decides to go in a new direction.

But with a salary of $ 10 to $ 18 million a year, he could be just what the Vikings need to stay competitive in 2021.

Use the code '3Deep' for 20% off and free shipping!



[ad_2]

Source link