Vikings Sign Kirk Cousins to Contract Extension

Minnesota Vikings fans have been waiting all day for their favorite football team to finally start the offseason. With the legal tampering period kicking in on Monday and free agency Wednesday, time was running out.

But the wait is now over and the immediate future of this franchise is starting to clear up. Kirk Cousins is signing a one-year extension with the Vikings that, after some void years, drops his cap hit to $31.25 million this season.

The #Vikings are signing Pro Bowl QB Kirk Cousins to a one-year, $35 million fully guaranteed extension that puts him under contract through 2023, per sources.

Cousins gets a raise to $40 million in 2022, $55 million payable by next March and a no-trade clause.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 13, 2022

Vikings gave Kirk Cousins a one-year, fully-guaranteed $35 million extension, per source. He will make $40 million this year and $30 million next. Deal has two voidable years in it to lower his cap number this year to $31.25M. $15M of deal will be paid by this time next year.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2022

More from @NFLTotalAccess on Kirk Cousins’ one-year, $35 million contract extension that locks him in as the #Vikings’ QB for 2022 after recent trade inquiries. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/7kxdqFK9mi

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 13, 2022

Kirk Cousins Extension Means What?

This newly minted extension means the drama building around Cousins’ contract for the last few months is now over. He’s no longer the biggest cap hit in the NFL and he will, without doubt, start at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings next season.

No more rumors surrounding Deshaun Watson’s whereabouts and no more talk of tanking the 2022 season for draft picks. The Wilfs promised a team that will be built to compete and that appears the route Kwesi & Company are taking.

But, Kirk remaining in purple also means more drama is almost certainly just around the corner. #8 is one of the most controversial sports figures in Minnesota history and you can be sure that, while half of Vikings nation is jumping for joy tonight, the other half is telling friends and family that they’ll never watch another game again.

Now that that’s out of the way…let’s get to work on a Lombardi #LetsFrickinGo ????

— Kirk Cousins (@KirkCousins8) March 14, 2022

And given the terms of this new deal, rumors on Kirk Cousins’ future will swirl again next offseason.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan