GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 29: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 29, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly decided on how they’re going to handle Kirk Cousins’ free agency.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the NFC outfit will not give the veteran quarterback a fully guaranteed deal, although they really like him.

 

Cousins’ deal expires after this year’s franchise tag deadline, so he can’t be tagged by the team and will be free to discuss moves with any other team once the new NFL year begins in mid-March.

The QB got fully guaranteed deals after his last two contract negotiations with the Vikings, but Breer reports he will not be getting such consideration this time around. Of course, he’s 35 now and coming off an Achilles injury.

Per Breer:

“The current Minnesota brass, now going into its third season, really likes Cousins, but it’s also been made clear that they’re not going to go contractually where the previous regime did twice, and give Cousins a fully guaranteed deal. Absent that, Cousins is now in position to hit the market like he did six years ago, this time older and, of course, more injured.”

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Given the above, Cousins is expected to get the type of money the likes of Jimmy Garoppolo, Derek Carr, and Geno Smtih got last year, with $30 million a season thought to be reasonable and even $45 million within reach.