It didn’t take long for the other shoe to drop.
The Minnesota Vikings have offered Kirk Cousins a three-year contract worth $28 million per year that the free agent quarterback is expected to sign once the NFL’s new year begins Wednesday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday, citing a source.
CBS Minnesota’s Mark Rosen reported the Vikings will sign Cousins on Wednesday, but Rapoport noted the transaction is not a done deal, although Minnesota is “in the driver’s seat” on Cousins and is likely to sign him if the QB’s visit goes well.
The Cousins news comes just hours after it was reported that Case Keenum, the Vikings’ starting quarterback in 2017, will sign with the Denver Broncos in free agency. Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater also will become unrestricted free agents Wednesday, and while either could still re-sign with Minnesota, it appears the Vikings have found their new starting QB in Cousins.
It’s a good choice, as Cousins was the top quarterback on the free agent market outside Drew Brees. The 29-year-old ranked seventh in the NFL last season with 4,093 passing yards while completing 64.3 percent of his passes for the Washington Redskins. His presence should make the Vikings a Super Bowl contender after they reached the NFC title game under Keenum last season.
Meanwhile, it’s back to the drawing board for the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, who reportedly also were pursuing Cousins.
UPDATE (12:06 p.m. ET):Â If you trust ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Cousins plans to sign with the Vikings — on an unprecedented guaranteed contract, no less.
