The Minnesota Vikings have two of the more high-profile free agents heading into the NFL’s free agency period in mid-March. Minnesota is going to have a lot of tough decisions to make on who they can bring back, who they have to let go, and who they’re going to bring in to fill roster holes.
On Tuesday, ESPN dropped their “best fits” for some of the top free agents, and perhaps unsurprisingly, they have Kirk Cousins leaving Minnesota – for the Atlanta Falcons.
ESPN staff writer Matt Bowen has tabbed the Atlanta Falcons as the perfect fit for the 35-year old quarterback, saying:
The Vikings should be in the mix to re-sign Cousins, but I think he fits really well with Atlanta under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson (who worked under Sean McVay in Los Angeles). It works well for Cousins in both the play-action and dropback passing game. Before tearing his right Achilles in Week 8, Cousins was completing 69.5% of his throws and had 18 touchdown passes to five interceptions. He would be an upgrade under center for an Atlanta offense that has plenty of young offensive skill talent in Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson.
Cousins is easily the most important decision the Vikings have to make this off-season. On one hand, he’s an aging quarterback coming off a serious injury who is going to command a high price. On the other hand, the offense was largely in shambles without Cousins last season, and bringing Cousins back may be a sticking point in future contract negotiations with superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
It’s going to be interesting to see how that situation plays out, and what the Vikings are going to do in the event that Cousins does land in Atlanta – or anywhere else.
