Kirk Cousins proved some naysayers wrong in 2019.
The Vikings quarterback struggled in 2018, his first season with Minnesota, but came back and led the Vikings to a 10-6 regular season record and a playoff victory.
Cousins threw for 3,603 yards, 26 touchdowns and just six interceptions. However, he loses his leading receiver in Stefon Diggs. Hopefully Cousins has similar production with Gary Kubiak, the new offensive coordinator and other receivers besides Diggs.
Barring anything crazy, Cousins is most likely the starting quarterback for the Vikings in 2020, that much is true, but the quarterbacks behind him on the depth chart will have to compete to be depth players.
Here are three storylines surrounding the most important position on the field:
Is Sean Mannion the backup quarterback?
Mannion was the backup quarterback last season, but in his one start, he didn’t light up the stat sheet.
With the Vikings having low stakes for their game against the Bears in Week 17, Mannion was given the start. Granted, the Bears have a good defense, and Mannion hadn’t attempted a pass in a game until that one. But still, he threw for 126 yards, two interceptions and no touchdown passes.
I think if Cousins goes down, the Vikings are in trouble if Mannion is the full-on replacement. Sure, you can say that about a lot of teams with their starting quarterbacks. But the Chiefs beat the Vikings with Matt Moore this year.
A player who’s good enough to manage a game and win when the starter goes down, can really change the outlook of a season. I’m not so sure Mannion is that player, despite the Vikings re-signing him this offseason.
Can Nate Stanley make the team?
The Vikings drafted Stanley in the seventh round of the NFL Draft this year. Stanley had good, but not great numbers at Iowa, throwing for 2,951 yards, 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
However, Stanley has a lot of upside due to his physical tools.
I like that Minnesota went with a low-risk quarterback towards the end of the draft. If Stanley pans out, the Vikings look smart for having seen value in him. If not, the team still has Mannion and Jake Browning as possible options.
Maybe Minnesota has three quarterbacks on its roster next season, or maybe they only keep two and Stanley surprises people and makes the cut.
Can Cousins take the next step?
Cousins had a better QBR last season than he did the year before and it showed in the team’s overall performance.
However, Cousins and the Vikings ran into the buzzsaw that is the 49ers defense in the playoffs. San Francisco knocked Minnesota out of the postseason and eventually the 49ers represented the NFC in the Super Bowl.
It’s a lot to ask of Cousins — that he gets better, and takes the team further into the postseason, despite losing his leading receiver and having a different offensive coordinator. But that’s where this team is at. Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman have contracts that run through the 2020 season. Those two need to show that the Vikings are just as good as they were in 2019.
Cousins has high expectations, but that’s what happens when you’re the starting quarterback on a team that has to contend. Now more than ever, the Vikings need Cousins to thrive in big moments.
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