The Broncos will travel to Minnesota in Week 11 to face the Vikings and quarterback Kirk Cousins, who outside linebacker Von Miller tried to recruit to Denver in 2018. Cousins instead signed a three-year, $84 million contract with the Vikings and the Broncos signed Case Keenum to a two-year, $36 million deal.
“Kirk Cousins, [I] was trying to get this guy here, had a whole campaign to get this guy here two years ago,” Miller said Thursday. “You know how I feel about him. I think he’s a great quarterback.”
Cousins’ contract with Minnesota is guaranteed and the QB has faced some criticism for his numbers not living up to his contract. Cousins threw 10 interceptions last year and lost seven fumbles. The Vikings finished the season 8-7-1, a disappointment after reaching the NFC Championship game in 2017.
Miller doesn’t think it’s completely fair to judge Cousins based on his contract, though.
“Sometimes you can’t really go off of contracts,” Miller said. “Some of these contracts are off timing and opportunity. In the NFL if it’s right for you, then boom. You can’t really just go off of that, but he’s playing — in my eyes, he’s playing well for their team.”
Cousins is arguably performing at a higher level this year than he was last season. The 31-year-old QB has thrown just three interceptions through 10 games and has helped Minnesota to a 7-3 record. Miller knows Cousins will be a tough test for Denver’s defense on Sunday.
“He’s got their team in contention to go to the playoffs and do some stuff after that,” Miller said. “In my eyes he’s playing great.”
