Vikings Have No Doubts Kirk Cousins Is Part Of The Solution In 2023

Many things have to happen for the Vikings in the offseason if the 2023 season is going to be successful. But one of the things that does not have to happen is finding a new quarterback.

Kirk Cousins turned a corner this season with his performance, and not just because he had stellar statistics. He did not have elite numbers and he failed to reach his career highs in completion percentage, yardage or TD-interception ratio.

But Cousins took a huge step in terms of leadership in the locker room and it is clear he wants to stay in Minnesota and win with his coaches and teammates.

This was not necessarily the case at the end of the 2020 or 2021 season. By that time, head coach Mike Zimmer was feeling the pressure of failing to turn the Vikings into a team that could dominate in the NFC. The old-school leader knew that the clock was ticking on his tenure in Minnesota.

Cousins and Zimmer never developed an overly warm relationship. Instead, they had to work together but it was clear that coach had his doubts about the quarterback’s ability to perform when the game was on the line.

Kevin O’Connell knew that one of the first things he could do as head coach of the Vikings was repair the coach-quarterback relationship. Coming from the Rams, he was Sean McVay’s right-hand man, and he knew that the head coach and the quarterback had to get along. He may not have had expertise in many other areas, but he knew how to build trust with his quarterback.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah knew that as well, and while it was somewhat controversial at the time, they made sure that Cousins would return to the team in 2022 even though it involved a cap hit of $31.4 million.

Cousins rewarded the team with a series of sharp performances when the game was on the line. Their 11-0 record in one-score regular-season games was the most impactful development of the season.

Cousins’ reputation was well known, and most Vikings fans can recite the mantra. “He can’t win in prime time, he can’t beat elite opponents, he can’t win when the money is on the table.”

He started the season with a decisive win over the Packers and then came a series of fourth-quarter victories, including a road triumph over the Buffalo Bills. If some observers thought Cousins was something of a choke artist, he went along way to destroying that reputation during the season.

While there were several deep cuts during the year, there’s no reason to try and blame Cousins any more. He is not Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow, but he is part of the solution. Some critics would like to see his cap money spent elsewhere, but that would not help the team improve in 2023.

The core skill players are in place for the team to improve on the offensive side of the ball. Remember, the Vikings have not had the same offensive system in back-to-back seasons in the Cousins era, and that changes now.

Cousins, Justin Jefferson, and T.J. Hockenson will form the heart of the offense. Veteran receiver Adam Thielen may not figure prominently in the team’s plans. If he does not, an upgrade at the No. 2 receiver will be a necessity. Dalvin Cook may no longer be looked at as an elite running back, but he is still capable of making game-changing plays. From this corner, he still looks like one of the best No. 1 running backs in the NFL.

Hockenson, who came to the team from the Lions at midseason, explained why Cousins is respected by his teammates. “One of those guys that’s going to stay in the fight,” Hockenson said. “Out in the huddle, he just gives you peace of mind that we’re going to move this thing and be all right. It’s great to have him.”

The large majority of the work needs to be done on the defensive side of the ball. The offense was not the reason the Vikings defense ranked 31^st in the league.

A new defensive coordinator will help, but improved personnel will help even more.

The Cousins argument does not need to be made any longer. He is a major asset for the Vikings and he will be part of the equation going forward.