ESPN's Contract Projection For Kirk Cousins is Higher Than You Think

Could Cousins end up making $50 million per year on his next contract?

How much will Kirk Cousins end up making in free agency this offseason? The number might be greater than you think.

Some projections for Cousins' average annual value have been in the range of $35 million per year. Assuming he tests the market and gets as much as he can, it's going to be more than that. Even coming off of an Achilles injury ahead of his 36th birthday, Cousins is by far the best quarterback available in free agency this year. In a constantly QB-needy league, that gives him plenty of leverage. Plus, the salary cap just went up, and Cousins' Achilles seems to be doing fine.

The number that ESPN's Bill Barnwell is projecting for Cousins this spring is $51 million per year. Fifty-one.

Any team hoping to win over the next three years that isn't in position to land one of the top starters in the 2024 draft should be trying to pursue Cousins. That's a group that includes the Broncos, Buccaneers, Falcons, Raiders, Steelers and Titans, with the Dolphins and Seahawks as outside candidates if they move on from their current starters. Some of those teams will opt for longer shots in the draft, but if Cousins' recovery is on track, he should be able to get one more significant deal as a 35-year-old free agent.

For context, Joe Burrow leads all quarterbacks (and players) with an AAV of $55 million. Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts are the only other players making at least $51 million per year. Cousins is much older than those players and not quite on their level, but it's all about leverage. He's coming off of a highly-productive eight-game stretch before getting hurt last October, the cap just went up, and he's unquestionably the best option for a win-now team in need of a quarterback. If there's a bidding war for his services, it wouldn't be stunning to see the final number go that high.

If Cousins ends up making $50 million per year — or even anywhere close to it — he won't be getting that deal from the Vikings. They may want him back in theory, but it seems unlikely that GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would be willing to go higher than $40 million per year, given Minnesota's other needs.

Whether Cousins gets to that $50 million mark or not, it continues to look more and more like he won't be returning to the Vikings this year.

Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

---

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all season long.

Subscribe to the Inside the Vikings newsletter

Follow Will Ragatz on X/Twitter