Extend Cousins or ... ?

I mean they can't extend him forever. We'll see what happens

One less thing for people to complain about! Woot! Cousins did offer to take less to stay.

It's interesting they couldn't come to an agreement, a happy medium. All signs point to getting our QBOTF soon.

Interesting they haven't come to an agreement yet (or they have and want to not sign it as a smoke screen for the draft).  It's possible that the Vikings are looking at a QB in the draft (Will Levis, Hendon Hooker, Tanner Morgan, etc.); there has certainly been a lot more chatter about the Vikings drafting a QB than there was a few weeks ago.  If the(a) guy they are targeting falls to them (or not), the leverage will change. 

If the Vikings draft a QB, Cousins may suddenly be willing to tack on some non-guaranteed years.  
If the Vikings don't draft a QB they like, suddenly it's: "Oh, yeah, we were going to offer Cousins 3 more years all along"

I'm not convinced QB contracting is over for the offseason yet.  

It's not a question of if Kwesi and O'Connell are going to pull the trigger on a young QB, it's when they pull the trigger on a young QB. 

I still think ownership has that just get in the playoffs and wish upon a star Jiminy Cricket idea on how to win a Super Bowl (which hasn't worked, not that anybody here needs reminding) so I'm skeptical of management and coaches getting ownership to move off Cousins. I will not be surprised in the least if he eventually get a reworked contract for this season and 2 more at a debated discount in cash with the higher cost of losing flexibility. The Cousins thing is the test of that Kwesi/KOC Puppet Regime theory.

I dont think its to that extreme, but I agree that Kirk and Vikes relationship may not end in 2023. I think Kwesi and Kevin are basically hedging the draft. Especially with the void years and 28 million in dead cap if Kirks not on the team next year. Which is also not the end of the world with how much space we have. Ppl complaining well your wasting 2 years of the rookie deal if we get Levis. Technically its true but 2024 still has a huge amount of cap and most teams gettign their QB of the future would not be coming into an offense with two cornerstone tackles, WR1 and a top 4 TE. Mahomes had that type of situation but most dont and your already usually 2 years into that by the time your ready to compete. 

But I think its going to go like this, obv its no secret Levis is a possible option whether he falls a little and they can pull the trigger is an unknown and no guarantee. I dont think there is any chance he falls to us so it would have to be a trade up at some point. I think they are willing to do that but he could be gone at 4-7 and you never even have that chance, im not getting my hopes up for this and im still unsure if thats the right move for him. 

Next we have the late round option. Unless say we gain more capital from guys like Cook, Z, or even Hunter, or we trade back from 23 I dont think they are going to take someone in say the 3rd round unless its Hooker. If your doing this you better be damn sure that guy is ready to go in 2024 because he may have to by default. I would be fine with this option but may rub some heads on the offense the wrong way if he turns out to be a Mond. I dont think they go this route unless Kevin really really likes a guy, and I would trust his judgment and be okay with it honestly. 

Then we have the wait game option. Levis went early, Hooker got scooped up in the 2nd and we came away with no one in the draft. Sure maybe we got a late "Nate Stanley" but no realistic option to be the QB of the future in the draft. I still dont think this means Kirk extension, but MAYBE a 1 year extension through 2024. I said this all along regardless of how you feel about Kirk there is just no way his cap hit can be on the roster in 2025 with JJ contract beginning then. He would have to be at like a 20 million cap hit and even then I dont think it would work and Kirk would never do that anyway. And what do you know he offered a discount but he wanted it through 2025 lol I knew Kwesi and Kevin werent dumb. Kirk really has no leverage, there are no QB needy teams that are going to cater to a 34 year old Kirk long term. Maybe at this point they agree to that 1 year extension after the draft, but I still dont see it. I think at this point they will play the season out and see how it goes. I still think we are going to be just as good if not better TALENT and team wise. No I dont think record wise. I see 7-11 wins range, unless Kirk or JJ went down. But anyways my point being I think they see what position in the draft they are in or how well they did. If they are in the low teens picking its probably over for Kirk and they would be able to draft there guy. Say they go to NFC ship maybe they work out extension for another year and still try and get that guy. 

Bottom line is Kwesi and Kevin are weighing all options and leaving all options and not catering long term to a 34 year old Kirk. Its all you could really ask for.