With the NFL draft less than a week away, many people have mocked the Vikings taking a quarterback at some point. Some predict a trade, some predict a quarterback selection at 23, and some predict a mid-round project QB. While I think a trade-up is unlikely, I’m here to tell you why I would certainly be in favor.
Lots of Vikings fans love Kirk Cousins. Some want to extend him today. Some people view him as a franchise quarterback, who has had horrible luck all the time and he can easily take the Vikings to the promised land if he is given the right situation.
Lots of Vikings fans hate Cousins. Some want him gone today. Some people view him as a system quarterback who only succeeds when everything around him is perfect, and he can never take the Vikings past the divisional round. They believe it is Cousins that has held this team back the last few years, not poor defensive play, a struggling offensive line, or bad coaching.
I fall more on the latter of these two opinions, but I think both sides have good points. No, I don’t think it’s always Cousins’ fault. But, he plays the most important position in a team sport, and has had many games where he has not delivered. Yes, I know the defense was the problem in the playoff loss against the Giants. But, the moment I remember from that game is Cousins choosing to check-down on 4th & 8 with the season on the line. Imagine if Cousins checked down on 4th & 18 against the Bills? I want a quarterback that at least tries to throw it up to Jefferson or even Osborn. If it gets intercepted, so what?
It has been proven constantly that Cousins shrinks in big games. I don’t like when people talk about prime-time Kirk, because you are playing the better teams in those games. But, I think his record of 10-40 against teams with a losing record is not a fluke. You can’t tell me he has gotten unlucky 40 times – at some point, you have to admit he may be the problem.
Why are people afraid to give up on Cousins? I feel like the Vikings have nothing to lose – as Cousins has proven he won’t win a Super Bowl. I believe that drafting a quarterback is a low risk, high gain move. Look at it like this:
In 2017, the Chiefs had a pro bowl QB in Alex Smith. They traded up for Patrick Mahomes because they believed they could find an upgrade. Two Super Bowls and three MVPs later, no one will call that a bad pick.
In 2020, the Eagles had a QB who had led them to the playoffs multiple times, but could not stay healthy. They took a chance on a second round project named Jalen Hurts, who has become a star and just received a nice payday.
In 2020, the Bengals had a QB who had also led them to the playoffs multiple times, but they saw an opportunity for an upgrade at #1 overall. Joe Burrow has since led them to two AFC championships and one Super Bowl.
In 2017, the Bills broke their long playoff drought and were led by Tyrod Taylor. They saw an upgrade, and drafted Josh Allen, who has solidified himself as a top five quarterback.
If the Vikings draft a QB who ends up being a bum, who cares? All I care about is Super Bowls, and I think that the Vikings current quarterback is a player with a great arm and good accuracy, but he is overpaid and not capable of leading the Vikings to what myself and so many other fans want and deserve.
If you can trade up and get a guy like CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis, or Anthony Richardson, awesome. If you want to reach on a guy like Hendon Hooker, that’s fine. But I am all for a quarterback being groomed under Cousins in 2023, and being handed the keys in 2024.
Now is the time for the Vikings to create a better future.
