The Minnesota Vikings have been making headlines in the NFL world with rumors of a potential trade for quarterback Kirk Cousins. While this news has excited many fans, there are a couple of major obstacles that the Vikings must overcome before this trade can become a reality.
First and foremost, the Vikings will have to navigate the financial aspect of this trade. Cousins is currently under a three-year, $84 million contract with the Washington Redskins. This includes a fully guaranteed $24 million salary for the upcoming season. In order for the Vikings to acquire Cousins, they will have to take on his hefty contract, which could potentially put a strain on their salary cap.
However, the Vikings have shown in the past that they are not afraid to make bold moves in order to improve their team. Just last year, they signed quarterback Kirk Cousins’ former teammate, Case Keenum, to a one-year, $2 million contract. Keenum went on to lead the Vikings to the NFC Championship game, proving that sometimes taking a risk can pay off in a big way.
The second major obstacle for the Vikings is the competition they face in the trade discussions. It has been reported that the New York Jets and the Arizona Cardinals are also interested in acquiring Cousins. Both teams have a significant amount of cap space and could potentially offer Cousins a more lucrative contract than the Vikings. This puts the Vikings in a tough position as they will have to make a compelling case to convince Cousins to choose them over the other teams.
Despite these challenges, the Vikings have a lot to offer Cousins. They have a strong and talented roster, with players like Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, and Dalvin Cook on the offensive side of the ball. The Vikings also have a top-ranked defense, led by Pro Bowlers Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes, and Harrison Smith. With Cousins at the helm, the Vikings could become a serious contender for the Super Bowl.
Another factor that could sway Cousins towards the Vikings is their head coach, Mike Zimmer. Zimmer has a reputation for being a defensive mastermind and has led the Vikings to two NFC North division titles in the past three years. He has also shown a willingness to adapt and evolve his coaching style, which could be appealing to Cousins as he looks for a team that can help him reach his full potential.
In addition, the Vikings have a strong fan base and a new state-of-the-art stadium, U.S. Bank Stadium, which opened in 2016. Playing in front of a passionate and supportive crowd can make a big difference for a player, and the Vikings have one of the best home-field advantages in the league.
While the Vikings may face some tough competition in the trade discussions, they have a lot to offer Cousins and could be the perfect fit for him. With a strong roster, a talented coach, and a passionate fan base, the Vikings have the potential to become a dominant force in the NFL with Cousins leading the way.
In conclusion, the Minnesota Vikings are certainly players in the trade discussions for Kirk Cousins, but they will have to overcome some major obstacles in order to make this trade a reality. However, with their strong roster, talented coach, and passionate fan base, the Vikings have a lot to offer Cousins and could be the perfect team for him to reach his full potential. Only time will tell if the Vikings will be able to clear these hurdles and acquire Cousins, but one thing is for sure, the Vikings are not afraid to take risks in order to improve their team and bring home a Super Bowl championship.