Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell recently spoke about the future of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, stating that Cousins has “earned the right to be a free agent.” This suggests that a deal to keep Cousins in Minnesota may not happen before he explores other options in free agency.
During an interview with Rich Eisen on NFL Network at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, O’Connell hinted that Cousins will go through the free agency process. He praised Cousins for his performance, calling him a “process guy” and acknowledging that he’s played excellent football.
Cousins, who is 35 years old, was having a career-best season before suffering a torn Achilles tendon that ended his year after eight games. During that time, he completed 69.5% of his passes, throwing for 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns, and just five interceptions.
Since then, there have been questions about Cousins’ future in Minnesota. He is set to become a free agent in less than two weeks, and several teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, and others, have shown interest in signing him.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that the Falcons are particularly interested in Cousins, believing that he could elevate them from a fringe playoff team to a contender. Other teams, such as the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Raiders, and Denver Broncos, are also in the mix.
As of March 1, the Vikings are the favorites to sign Cousins, with odds of -250 according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The Falcons are close behind at +330, while the Patriots, Steelers, Raiders, and Broncos have odds ranging from +800 to +1500.
O’Connell’s comments suggest that Cousins will explore free agency, and several teams are interested in signing him. The Vikings are the favorites to retain him, but other teams are also in contention.
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