Reports: Vikings expected to land free agent Kirk Cousins
Mar 13, 2018, 8:32 AM | Updated: 9:14 am
Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) reacts to wide receiver Andre Roberts' touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Landover, Md., Monday, Oct. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Quarterback Kirk Cousins will reportedly take his first free agency meeting with the Vikings, and it appears that might be the end of his free agency tour.
Cousins plans to ink a three-year, fully-guaranteed deal, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Vikings offered Cousins a three-year deal that pays $28 million annually, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who added the team believes it will have a commitment from the quarterback by the end of his visit Thursday.
Free agent QB Kirk Cousins will have dinner with #Vikings coaches and other essential personnel tomorrow night, then visit the shiny new facility on Thursday, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2018
That puts the Arizona Cardinals behind the eight-ball in their search for a starting quarterback.
They were expected to offer Cousins a contract that would guarantee him close to $90 million over the first three years, according the 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Mike Jurecki, but it appears Cousins might be ready to pull the trigger and join the Vikings.
If Cousins likes Minnesota’s pitch, then Arizona would need to move forward by setting up meetings and physicals with a second-tier of quarterback options: Sam Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown.
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Bradford, 30, and Bridgewater, 25, were attempting to return from injuries at the tail end of the 2017 season as their Vikings charged into the NFC Championship Game behind starter Case Keenum.
Bradford enjoyed his best pro season in 2016, throwing for 3,877 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions for the Vikings before he made only two appearances last year due to a knee injury.
Bridgewater suffered a serious knee injury in training camp before the 2016 season. He returned in limited action in Week 15 of 2017, throwing just two passes.
Meanwhile, McCown is 38 and coming off a broken hand that ended his year with the New York Jets after Week 14.
On Monday night, Schefter reported that Keenum was ready to sign a two-year deal with the Denver Broncos, becoming the first quarterback domino to fall this offseason.
