Updates on Top Vikings Free Agents Kirk Cousins, Danielle Hunter

The Vikings are reportedly "working to see if they can keep" Cousins this spring.

On Super Bowl weekend, here's the latest update on the Vikings and free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, courtesy of ESPN's Dan Graziano.

Kirk Cousins' impending free agency is a story at this year's Super Bowl, much like it was six years ago when the big game was in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Vikings are working to see if they can keep their 35-year-old quarterback — who is coming off an Achilles tear — and they'd like to have an answer in the next few weeks so they can plan accordingly.

OK, I suppose that isn't actually much of an update. It doesn't sound like the Vikings themselves know right now whether or not Cousins will be back in 2024. As has always been the case, it's going to be a negotiation that comes down to price and structure. Those conversations will really ramp up later this month and in early March.

If you weren't aware, there's an important timing aspect to all of this, with Cousins' contract voiding on March 13th. As Graziano explains, the Vikings would love to make a decision on an extension, one way or another, before his contract voids and the dead money accelerates onto their books.

The final four years of Cousins' contract voids on the final day of the league year, which means the Vikings can't franchise him, as the void date is after the franchise tag window. And his $28.5 million in dead salary cap charges would accelerate onto their 2024 cap if he's not signed to an extension by that date. That dead cap acceleration wouldn't prevent them from re-signing him, but it would be a lot easier for them to manage the deal if they could get an agreement before March 12 and defray some of those charges into future years of a new deal.

The other piece of this Cousins situation is that the Vikings' other top free agent, Danielle Hunter, is kind of in limbo until there's an answer on the quarterback front.

Minnesota's other business — most prominently a potential new deal for defensive end Danielle Hunter before he hits the market — is on hold until it figures out what's going on with Cousins.

With that said...it doesn't sound particularly likely that Hunter remains in Minnesota next season. He's going to command a lot of money, and the Vikings may have too many holes to fill to justify paying Hunter top dollar. From Jeremy Fowler:

The sense I get here in Vegas is that Danielle Hunter will be hard for the Vikings to keep. He will have a very strong market, he turned 29 in October, and several teams had interest at the trade deadline. Chicago could look to add a pass-rusher to complement Montez Sweat in free agency and is very high on Hunter. The Jacksonville Jaguars are another team to watch, though they have to figure out Josh Allen's future.

Patience, everyone. We'll have answers soon enough.

Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

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