Kirk Daniel Cousins (born August 19, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan State from 2009 to 2011, and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Kirk Cousins, however, probably wouldn’t spring to mind. Despite some notable struggles, though, the veteran quarterback has still carved out a solid career; if nothing else, he’s been a financial success. During his time in the NFL, Kirk Cousins has made more than $140 million in salary. If you have suppressed this memory from your brain, let me remind you, Kirk Cousins is due nearly $100 million from 2020 to 2022. And his statline on Sunday against a Colts team that got bullied in the fourth quarter by Gardner Minshew (who makes about 35 times less money than Cousins this year) was this: 11-for-26 passing, 113 yards, zero.

There was speculation at the beginning of the season that the Vikings could move on from Kirk Cousins after the 2020 season.

That talk cooled off after the team, and Cousins, started to play better. But now that the Vikings are almost certain to miss out on the playoffs, the chatter has started again.

Gregg Rosenthal over at NFL.com went over quarterbacks who could be on the move this offseason and speculated that Cousins could be on his way to San Francisco if the 49ers cut ties with Jimmy Garoppolo.

Cousins only has one year left of guaranteed money on his contract and would be easier to trade than Ryan. A deal would actually save the Vikings $11 million in cap space — while also opening up a huge quarterback conundrum. Shanahan’s long-term love for Cousins makes the prospect of his relocation something more than idle speculation.

If this were to happen, the Vikings would almost certainly be drafting a quarterback early in the 2021 draft, or would be a possibility for someone like Carson Wentz or Sam Darnold.

You can read Rosenthal’s full list here.

Age: 32

Free Agency: 2023 (UFA)

Accrued Seasons: 9

Height: 6-3
Weight: 209
College: Michigan State
Entry: 2012 Draft, Round 4, #102 overall (Football Team)

2020 Salary Cap Charge: $21,000,000 (10.60% of cap)
2020 Cash Payout: $40,000,000 (19.56% of spending)
2020 Cash to Cap Ratio: 1.90

Contract Value: $66,000,000 ($33,000,000 APY)
Fully Guaranteed Money: $61,000,000
Contract Ranking: 7/114 at QB

Current Contract

(Extension, signed 2020)

(📝: indicates contract trigger occuring during that year)

Year	Age	Base Salary	Prorated Bonus	Guaranteed Salary	Cap Number	Cap %
2020	32	$9,500,000	$11,500,000	$9,500,000	$21,000,000	10.6%
2021 📝 March 19: 2022 base salary becomes fully guaranteed	33	$21,000,000	$10,000,000	$21,000,000	$31,000,000	17.2%
2022	34	$35,000,000	$10,000,000	$0	$45,000,000	19.8%
Total	$65,500,000	$31,500,000	$30,500,000	$97,000,000

Contract Notes

Kirk Cousins signed a two year contract extension with the Vikings worth $66 million on March 16, 2020. Cousins at the time of signing had one year remaining on his old contract worth $30 million making the total package worth $96 million over three years. $61 million is fully guaranteed at signing, including a $30 million signing bonus and Cousins 2020 and 2021 base salaries. If Cousins in on the Vikings roster on the 3rd day of the 2021 league year his 2022 salary, which is currently guaranteed for injury, will become fully guaranteed. The move saved the Vikings $10 million in 2020 cap room.

Career APY: $15,607,699

Total Guarantees: $189,369,288

Largest Cap Number: $45,000,000 (2022)

Contract History

Team	Contract Type	Status	Year Signed	Yrs	Total	APY	Guarantees	Amount Earned	% Earned	Effective APY
Redskins	Drafted	Expired	2012	4	$2,572,688	$643,172	$472,688	$2,572,688	100.0%	$643,172
Redskins	Franchise	Expired	2016	1	$19,953,000	$19,953,000	$19,953,000	$19,953,000	100.0%	$19,953,000
Redskins	Franchise	Expired	2017	1	$23,943,600	$23,943,600	$23,943,600	$23,943,600	100.0%	$23,943,600
Vikings	UFA	Renegotiated	2018	3	$84,000,000	$28,000,000	$84,000,000	$54,000,000	64.3%	$27,000,000
Vikings	Extension	Active	2020	2	$66,000,000	$33,000,000	$61,000,000	$40,000,000	60.6%	$40,000,000

Earnings By Team

Team	Yrs	Salary	APY	Paid on Cap	% Paid on Cap	Paid as Dead Money	% Paid as Dead Money
Washington	6	$46,469,288	$7,744,881	$46,469,288	0.0%	$0	0.0%
Vikings	3	$94,000,000	$31,333,333	$74,000,000	0.0%	$0	0.0%

Year	Team	Base Salary	Prorated Bonus	Guaranteed Salary	Cap Number	Cap %	Cash Paid
2012	Redskins	$390,000	$118,172	$0	$508,172	0.4%	$862,688
2013	Redskins	$480,000	$118,172	$0	$598,172	0.5%	$480,000
2014	Redskins	$570,000	$118,172	$0	$688,172	0.5%	$570,000
2015	Redskins	$660,000	$118,172	$0	$778,172	0.5%	$660,000
2016	Redskins	$19,953,000	$0	$19,953,000	$19,953,000	12.3%	$19,953,000
2017	Redskins	$23,943,600	$0	$23,943,600	$23,943,600	13.5%	$23,943,600
2018	Vikings	$22,500,000	$1,500,000	$22,500,000	$24,000,000	12.6%	$26,000,000
2019	Vikings	$27,500,000	$1,500,000	$27,500,000	$29,000,000	15.1%	$28,000,000
2020	Vikings	$9,500,000	$11,500,000	$9,500,000	$21,000,000	10.6%	$40,000,000
2021	Vikings	$21,000,000	$10,000,000	$21,000,000	$31,000,000	17.2%	$21,000,000
2022	Vikings	$35,000,000	$10,000,000	$0	$45,000,000	19.8%	$35,000,000
Total		$161,496,600	$34,972,688	$124,396,600	$196,469,288	$196,469,288

Statistics

Kirk Cousins Twitter

Year	Games Played	Games Missed		Snaps		Passing							Rushing				Fumbles
Year	Games Played	Injured	Healthy	Offense	Special	Comp/Att	Pct	Yards	TD	INT	Sacked	Rating	Att	Yards	Avg