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NFL rumors: Kirk Cousins between Jets and Vikings – Metro US

NFL rumors: Kirk Cousins between Jets and Vikings

Dyer, Whatever, price, Jets, pay, Kirk Cousins

We’re still nine days away from the start of the NFL’s free agency period, but it looks as though quarterback Kirk Cousins already has a good idea of where he wants to go. 

According to Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, Cousins has his list narrowed down to two possible destinations: the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets. 

Earlier on Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Cousins’ list was down to four teams, the two others being the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals

The 29-year-old does not officially become a free agent until next Wednesday, but speculation as to where he will end up has been swirling at gale-force speeds ever since the Washington Redskins traded for veteran passer Alex Smith. 

It will be the end of a tumultuous relationship that saw the Redskins place the franchise tag on Cousins in each of the last two offseasons as they were unwilling to give him a long-term contract despite him holding three of the four best passing seasons in franchise history. 

Now he has the chance to receive a hefty payday while becoming the face of a franchise under center. The problem is, he could be facing the decision of going for the most money possible or winning sooner. 

The Jets have a ton of money to throw at Cousins this offseason as they have an approximate estimation of $100 million in cap space. Reports (via Brian Costello of the New York Post) in late February suggested that New York would be willing to offer the quarterback a whopping $60 million in the first year of his contract.

While Cousins would be an astronomically wealthy man should he decide to sign with the Jets, he might have to wait a while before his team becomes serious contenders. Coming off a 5-11 season that was considered an overachievement, he won’t’ have the kind of offensive weapons that the Vikings have. 

The NFC runner-ups have a far-more vaunted offense with dangerous receivers in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. They also have a healthy Dalvin Cook in the backfield, who showed during his brief rookie season that he can take away an opposing defense’s focus off the passing game, opening things up for a passer like Cousins who has eclipsed the 4,000-yard mark in each of the last three years.