The Minnesota Vikings offense will have a new look for the 2024-2025 NFL season after shocking signings and releases made within the past week.
Most shocking, QB Kirk Cousins signed a $180 million contract, including a $50 million signing bonus with the Atlanta Falcons on March 11. Cousins played six seasons for the Vikings, while his final season was cut short due to an Achilles tear. Prior to the 2023-2024 NFL season, Cousins threw for four conductive seasons with 4,000+ passing yards and 25+ passing TDs. While Cousins was forced to miss the second half of Minnesota's season, Atlanta sees value in this veteran QB since they are willing to invest over $200 million in their new QB.
Kirk Cousins' $180M deal with the #Falcons is the largest total value free agent contract in #NFL history.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 14, 2024
His $100M of practical guarantee ties Derek Carr for most all-time in free agency.
Cousins isn't the only change in the Vikings QB room. Josh Dobbs, who filled in as the starter for the Vikings when Cousins suffered his season-ending injury, signed a one-year deal with the San Fransico 49ers. While the 49ers have a talented starter in Brock Purdy, Dobbs has been in the NFL longer than Purdy, and his experience will be valuable to San Fransisco's young star QB.
To replace these two QBs, the Vikings signed Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million deal. Darnold played in 10 games his previous season with the 49ers, completing two touchdown passes with a 60.9% completion rate. Darnold hopes to compete for the starting QB role and earn back the role of a starter, which he held in New York and Carolina.
Former Green Bay RB Aaron Jones shocked the NFC North when he announced he signed a one-year $7 million contract with Minnesota. Jones, who was injured for the majority of his previous season with the Packers, returned for the end of the regular season and for the Packers playoff appearance, where he flourished in the role of RB1, recording 110+ rushing yards in his final four games, and housed three TDs in the Packers dominant playoff victory over the Cowboys.
It is safe today that the Vikings' offense will look significantly different next season, with a new quarterback and running back eager to team up with Minnesota star receiver Justin Jefferson.
