Report: Vikings told Teddy Bridgewater their intentions with Kirk Cousins

The Minnesota Vikings have not ruled out bringing back Teddy Bridgewater next season, but they have apparently told their former first-round pick that they are going after a bigger prize in free agency.

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports that the Vikings informed Bridgewater at the NFL Scouting Combine last weekend that they intend to pursue Cousins. However, Bridgewater remains a “viable backup plan” in Minnesota should the team lose out in the Cousins sweepstakes.

While the Vikings are viewed as the early favorite to land Cousins, Volin notes that they could run into some financial issues. They want to sign core players Stefon Diggs, Anthony Barr and Danielle Hunter to contract extensions, and they could face some complications if Cousins wants a massive amount of guaranteed money.

The Vikings have invested a high draft pick and a lot of time in Bridgewater, but the 25-year-old has no reason to return to Minnesota if Cousins is in the mix. Even though he basically hasn’t played in two years after suffering a devastating knee injury prior to the 2016 season, Bridgewater has reportedly drawn interest from multiple teams as a starting option.