If the Minnesota Vikings hit their four-leg parlay in Week 18 and sneak into the postseason, go right ahead and point ant me and laugh. Because the way I see it, the 2023 season comes to a close on Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Lions inside Ford Field. So, instead of honing in on a potential matchup, scheme, or personnel usage that the Vikings could exploit for a victory on Sunday, allow me to get a jumpstart on the potentially franchise-altering offseason.
Kirk Cousins is set to be a free agent for the first time since he signed with the Vikings in March 2018. Does the absence of the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback this season make the decision to bring him back next year a no-brainer? Has the time come to officially start anew by spending an early first-round pick on a rookie signal-caller? Why not both? Before we try to answer that, let’s dissect the individual who may already have the most say in the locker room: Justin Jefferson.
There’s an argument to be made that the Vikings have been essentially bending the knee to the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year since the dawn of the Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era. They replaced Mike Zimmer with the offensive coordinator who had just won a Super Bowl alongside Sean McVay. O’Connell and McVay won it all by shooting Cooper Kupp to the stars en route to one of the best individual seasons by a wide receiver of the 21st century.
Signing Josh Oliver on the opening day of free agency in March 2023 was supposed to help alleviate the constant two-high coverages that slowed down Minnesota’s superstar in Year 1 under O’Connell. Twenty-four hours after losing to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football in Week 12, O’Connell had this to say about what would go into the decision-making process for naming the starting quarterback against the Las Vegas Raiders:
We’re going to make sure that whoever is playing quarterback is aware and understands the intent behind plays where either Justin is the primary [target], or based upon coverage, based upon the defensive look, how to quickly and efficiently get to the right place to go with the football.
After giving Josh Dobbs the nod in Week 14, his “hospital ball” that literally sent Jefferson to the hospital that afternoon was the unofficial ending to Dobbs Mania. Dobbs has been operating as the QB3 ever since.
Would the Vikings be the first franchise in the modern era to give a marquee wide receiver this much power?
Front offices typically only give Hall of Fame quarterbacks that type of treatment. After the 2019 season, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and Andy Reid reportedly asked Patrick Mahomes who he wanted them to take with the 32nd pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Mahomes responded via text, “CEH,” and that’s who they chose.
Or when Aaron Rodgers finally got such treatment by the Green Bay Packers brass following their multiyear melodrama after taking Jordan Love in 2020.
If the Vikings are operating in a way that allows Jefferson to be the sun that everything else within the franchise orbits, then it sure seems like the choice is already made regarding Cousins — unless, of course, Cousins decides against returning to Minnesota.
After the loss to the Lions inside U.S. Bank Stadium on Christmas Eve, Jefferson had this to say following Nick Mullens‘ four interceptions:
I think it goes to show the world the type of player Kirk is. This is a tough league. Not everybody is meant for this job. It’s tough not having No. 8 out there.
When speaking to the media on Wednesday about having Cousins as his quarterback next season, Jefferson said:
It’s not really in my control… I’m confident they’re going to make the right decision up there. If it’s Kirk, perfect. If it’s whoever they choose, it’s not my decision.
I certainly can’t speak on Jefferson’s behalf, but the language that he used on Wednesday would indicate that he wants Cousins back next season. With Jefferson set to play on the final year of his rookie contract next season, would failing to acquiesce his preferred quarterback hinder a potential mega-extension? Maybe. Maybe not.
Hypothetically speaking, if Cousins is the quarterback that Jefferson wants, what choice do the Vikings have but to bring No. 8 back for at least one more year? Regardless of how anyone else inside TCO Performance Center feels, Jefferson’s say on the matter could carry the most weight. Because ultimately, this franchise could already be his. Adhering to Jefferson’s input on the quarterback situation could loom large when it comes to getting him to re-up with the Vikings this offseason.
