Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins won't engage in contract discussions until March of the upcoming NFL season.
The Vikings QB put off talks of signing a new contract with the organization last spring. Cousins signed a fully guaranteed one-year extension with the franchise for $35 million, including a $25 million signing bonus, meaning his contract expires at the end of the upcoming season.
Earlier this year, the organization underwent the process of restructuring Cousins' deal to create cap space for 2023, signaling their belief in his abilities to lead the team deep into the playoffs. However, if the signal caller doesn't sign the extension, the team will take a $28.5 million cap hit in 2024.
"I think we'll probably talk about the contract next March," Cousins said on the final day of the Vikings' mandatory minicamp. "Until then, [we'll] just focus on this season and the job to do right now."
Cousins' current contract will officially expire in March 2024, with neither side yet to speak on coming to a financial agreement. The Vikings currently have three QBs on their roster, featuring Cousins, five-year veteran Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall - who the team drafted in the fifth round of April's NFL draft.
Despite being 34 years old, Cousins previously stated that although his career isn't finished, he would like to retire as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. However, he also understood the decision to take a reserve QB in the draft to secure a sense of the future if the Vikings and Cousins part ways.
"In this league, there should never be entitlement," Cousins said. "You've always got to go play, and teams can do whatever they want to do. That's their prerogative. You just go to work. You do the best you can. I'm encouraged and excited because I do feel like I've got a lot of good football ahead of me."
If Cousins plays well in 2023, the decision to bet on himself will go in his favor. Though his statistics don't place him among the league’s elite passers, Cousins' solid production has allowed him to be a consistent starter in the NFL, throwing at least 25 touchdowns in each of the past six seasons.
While his regular season success hasn't been replicated during the playoffs in Minnesota or even during his tenure with the Washington Commanders, he provides a level of composure and stability at the quarterback position that teams without a franchise QB wish they had.
The Vikings organization made headlines earlier in the month after notifying the league that they would release their four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook after failing to find a suitor in the trade market.
Cook was released the following Friday of the release, already hinting at his next possible destination - despite his financial demands that his services won't come cheaper than $5 million yearly. The runner took to social media to hint at possibly joining the Miami Dolphins, although no official decisions have been made by the organization.
The Vikings will go into next season with former backup Alexander Mattison, but Cousins stated his belief that Cook could return back to the organization.
"I'm excited to see where he goes," Cousins said. "I'll always be pulling for him, and I'm kind of optimistically hoping maybe we get him back. Who knows. Maybe there is an outside chance. We'll see."
