Once again, Kirk Cousins wins the Checkbook Super Bowl. And once again, this win will have ripples throughout the NFL and many different franchises, impacting contract extensions, trades, and future draft situations.
Cousins' four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons includes $100 million in hard guarantees, which significantly increases his income. at least $321 million over his career. It's one in a long line of victories for the quarterback and his agent, Mike McCartney of VaynerSports, who have racked up an impressive 11 consecutive years of guaranteed full pay. Over the course of that time, Cousins' 2018 contract with the Minnesota Vikings made him the NFL's highest-paid player at the time, making him the highest salary for a quarterback, while also producing solid numbers. Become. Fully guaranteed second tier quarterback contract.
Despite winning just one playoff game, all of this ultimately outweighed Cousins' willingness to fulfill his contract and choose his next destination in free agency at the negotiating table. Ta. He did that in Washington, finding a home in a Vikings franchise that was in desperate need of a quality starter. And he did just that this week, quenching the Falcons' thirst for a definitive solution to their ongoing problems at the position.
This latest deal wasn't just about securing another bag. Indeed, Atlanta is an attractive city for the veteran, who turns 36 in August. He's now in the middle of a layered offense, implementing the same Sean McVay scheme he learned under Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota.
This was a meaningful deal for both the player and the team. More important than each party's options is the position of either Cousins taking less guaranteed money to remain with the Vikings or the Falcons acquiring Justin Fields (who is at a very questionable point on his rookie contract). It's bigger than the choice that would have been made. Or settle for a second-tier rookie quarterback who isn't among the draft's “big three” of USC's Caleb Williams, LSU's Jayden Daniels and UNC's Drake Maye.
Now, the Falcons have a veteran answer at the position, with two more years of guaranteed money in Cousins and plenty of talent on offense.
The Falcons and Cousins will both emerge victorious starting Monday, but many other teams and players will also be affected. among them …
If you believe what general managers told Yahoo Sports in December, the Bears' quarterback trade market has always been soft. At best, the ceiling was considered a second-round draft pick, but there was a caveat that Fields needed to finish the 2023 season strong. However, most GMs considered his value to be some kind of third-round salary, or even less, assuming enough teams were interested in creating a market. . Instead, the opposite could happen, with a strong rookie quarterback class available and the other three veteran quarterbacks (Cousins, Baker Mayfield, Russell Wilson) all available on the market. Wilson's intended contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mayfield's extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers effectively remove two potential trade candidates from the mix.
But it was Cousins' move to Atlanta that was most damaging to Fields. Not only did he end any franchise that had any interest in him, but the benefit of getting a new starting quarterback in Minnesota was ultimately negated by the Vikings and Bears being in the same district. It's not unheard of to have a starting quarterback in the division, but if Fields develops into a quality starter in Minnesota, it would be a rarity for the Bears, with potential disaster. Become.
Given that reality, if Fields wanted to be traded to a team looking for a starting pitcher, there would be only a handful of possible destinations. The Las Vegas Raiders reportedly signed Gardner Minshew on Monday, and he could still have a first-round rookie quarterback available. And the Denver Broncos could also take a first-round rookie.
Given that Fields has a fifth-year option on his current contract (which is unlikely to be exercised, effectively leaving him with one year left on his contract), either option could be a viable option. less likely.
'Second tier' draft quarterbacks and Vikings, Broncos, Raiders
The current rookie quarterback class is shaping up to be an elite top tier consisting of Williams, Daniels, and Maye, followed by Michigan's JJ McCarthy, Oregon's Bo Nix, and Washington's Michael Penix. The second tier of juniors follows. Any member of this trio could become one. He is playing for the Falcons' No. 8 overall draft pick. Right now, it doesn't seem likely that any of them will be in the top 10 unless the New York Giants make a surprise pick at No. 6 overall. Of course, that excludes any trade up from the team ranked No. 11 (Vikings), No. 12 (Broncos), or No. 13 (Raiders). Of this trio, the Raiders are the only one with a veteran in Minshew who has shown he can be a bridge starter. All three teams could be targeting a second-tier pick, and if one QB emerges as the best option next to the big three, they could move into the top 10.
Detroit Lions and Jared Goff (and all other future QB extensions)
Cousins' contract with the Falcons will weigh heavily on Goff extension talks. Not only is Goff younger (29 years old), but he has also produced far more in the postseason than Cousins. And while it once looked like there would be a $50 million annual price tag for the Lions' quarterback, it's now all but certain.
Players like Dak Prescott and Trevor Lawrence are unlikely to be affected, as both extensions are very likely records. However, Goff was not considered to be with the company for now.
Detroit's NFC title game appearance in the playoffs could have already changed his salary floor. Cousins' contract is definitely going to happen.
Two prominent agents with a history of making quarterback deals said Monday night that Goff's floor should start within the top-five quarterback contracts given the Cousins deal. If Lawrence and Prescott sign first and reset the market, Goff's average salary floor would be in the $52 million range…unless Goff gives the Lions some kind of discount.
