Report reveals Kirk Cousins’ potential contract demands

Aug 29, 2019; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) looks on from the sidelines against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback Kirk Cousins is heading into free agency coming off a torn Achilles, but it does not appear that the injury will have much impact on his initial asking price.

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback could cost as much as $90 million guaranteed over two years on the open market, according to Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press. That price would certainly rule the Vikings out of the running to bring him back.

Cousins famously signed a three-year, $84 million fully-guaranteed deal in 2018. He is aiming for even more now over a shorter period of time, largely because the quarterback market has continued to grow more costly since then. An annual salary of $45 million would barely put him in the top ten among quarterbacks, for instance.

The veteran quarterback has suggested that he would like to be back with the Vikings, but that price likely would not be feasible for them, so he would have to moderate somewhat. He has made three Pro Bowls with the team, and they lack a clear and obvious replacement for him in the short-term.