NFL Rumors: Minnesota Vikings Put Kirk Cousins Among Top-5 Highest-Paid Quarterbacks

Kirk Cousins wasn’t headed for free agency, but he joins the list of quarterbacks that are getting new deals for the 2020 NFL season. The signal caller has agreed to a two-year extension with the Minnesota Vikings.

According to multiple reports, the Vikings have added two years to Cousins’ deal, which was set to expire after next season. Minnesota gave Cousins $84 million over three years prior to the 2018 season, fully guaranteeing the contract.

Cousins’ two-year extension is reportedly worth $66 million, $61 million of which is guaranteed. The veteran was set to make $29.5 million in 2020.

With his new contract, Cousins has an average yearly salary of $33 million. That makes him the fifth-highest paid quarterback in the league, for now.

Dak Prescott and Tom Brady could end up signing contracts that pay them more than $33 million per year this offseason. The Tennessee Titans gave Ryan Tannehill a four-year, $118 million contract Sunday.

Kirk Cousins will lock in $40M in 2020, thanks to a $30M signing bonus, & $10M salary.
- His cap hit drops $10M to $21M).
- His 2021 salary is fully guaranteed
- His 2022 salary locks in next March
- Basically another fully GTD contract.

Full Breakdown:https://t.co/sN7zdHZCMG
— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 16, 2020

#Vikings QB Kirk Cousins' contract extension clears $10 million in 2020 cap space, source said. He was due $29.5 million in final year of his old contract. Now under contract for three years, $96 million, including $61M fully guaranteed.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2020

Russell Wilson leads all quarterbacks with a $35 million average yearly salary. Ben Roethlisberger is second at $34 million. Aaron Rodgers and Jared Goff both make $33.5 million per season.

Cousins has gone 18-12-1 as Minnesota’s starting quarterback. The 31-year-old has thrown for 7,901 yards, 56 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and a 103.0 passer rating in two seasons with the Vikings.

Cousins made the 2019 Pro Bowl. He was a 2016 Pro Bowl selection when he played for the Washington Redskins.

Minnesota upset the New Orleans Saints on the road in the wild-card round of the 2020 NFL playoffs. The eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers beat the Vikings in the divisional round.

The Vikings reached the 2018 NFC Championship Game just weeks before they signed Cousins in free agency. Minnesota last had a losing record in 2014.