On a day where we found out that the Minnesota Vikings, in all likelihood, will not be using their Franchise or Transition Tags to retain quarterback Case Keenum, the rumors that they’ll be in dogged pursuit of the big quarterback prize in free agency for this year are increasing in volume.
Today, several folks with well-placed sources in the National Football League intimated that the Vikings were going to be serious players in the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes that will officially get underway in two weeks when the “legal tampering period” begins.
We’ll run them down here, starting with Sirius XM NFL radio host and long-time personnel executive Gil Brandt.
If I were a betting man, I'd say that's where he lands. Certainly interest on both sides. https://t.co/yAsfoZwssT
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) February 26, 2018
We also have a couple of guys from the NFL Network in Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport.
It’s almost time to separate the contenders from pretenders on Kirk Cousins. I’m putting the Vikings firmly in that first category. We discuss. pic.twitter.com/Wwl3jiLSzD
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 26, 2018
Last, we have Charles Robinson, NFL reporter for Yahoo! Sports.
On the ground in Indianapolis, and can already say after a couple conversations that #Vikings and Cousins is a legit thing. But it's all going to come down to money. Same with #Broncos. #Jets may be the only team willing to blow it out.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) February 27, 2018
Now, we’ve talked at length about the possibility of Cousins coming to Minnesota, and if he and the Vikings want to make this match happen, it’s possible that Cousins might have to take a contract for a slightly lower amount than he might be able to get from other teams. But, if Cousins’ desire to win football games is a high enough priority, he might be willing to take such a deal.
We’re getting closer to the start of free agency, and with that we’re going to see an increase in the amount of rumors and innuendo surrounding various players and teams. After today, the idea of Kirk Cousins being the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 appears to have picked up a great deal of momentum. Is it going to happen? Do the Vikings and/or Kirk Cousins want it to happen?
Only. . .sigh. . .thirteen more days of rumors and speculation until we start finding out for sure.