Minnesota Vikings: Kirk Cousins For MVP Only If He Can Handle The Pressure
The Minnesota Vikings weren’t looking for the next Case Keenum this summer. They were on the hunt for an MVP candidate. Not to say that Keenum didn’t play lights out for the Vikings in 2017 but Kirk Cousins is a different monster. While Keenum did manage to throw for 3547 yards with 27 touchdowns along with only seven interceptions, he was never going to be the missing piece. Yes, the same Keenum who stunk up the field for the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams but somehow found the secret to success in Minnesota. Can the same be done for Cousins?
He has to. Cousins has no other choice and neither does the Vikings.
[MarkAds]With the QB free agent market thin this offseason, Kirk Cousins was the top prize going in. While other teams may have offered more money (Jets), the Vikings were a no-brainer for Kirk. The Vikings were fresh off a 13-3 season, NFC Championship, a top-ranked offense/defense and young enough to keep the momentum going for a few seasons. How could Kirk Cousins turn them down?
Well, now that he’s there, the question is; Will he be any good? That’s the difficult part when discussing Cousins. His time with the Washington Redskins was average but there were no real expectations for him either. In his three seasons as the starter, the Redskins made the playoffs just once. With a career record of 26-30-1, the Vikings are taking a gamble on a player who may not be able to handle the pressure that comes with a winning franchise.
Can The Minnesota Vikings Count On Kirk Cousins?
I’m not saying that the Redskins organization are losers. However, Cousins must make it to Super Bowl 53 in order to deem his first season a success. Think about it. Case Keenum guided them to the NFC Championship then the Vikes let him walk only to bring in a player who has never led his team anywhere. The same could be said of Keenum before last season but the truth is, lighting has to strike twice and the odds are against Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings.
But what happens if Cousins does perform?
As good as Keenum was last season, Kirk Cousins could be better. Although the Redskins weren’t tearing the league up with wins, Cousins continued to fly under-the-radar for three seasons. Take a look at his numbers and you will see that he’s been up there with the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady as far some stats show. Cousins has yet to throw under 4000 yards in a season. He has yet to throw under 25 TD passes and no more than 13 interceptions is a season. All of this was done while playing with a receiving corps not as good as most in the league, let alone the Vikings.
Now, pair Cousins with the likes of Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and Kyle Rudolph, and what Cousins could accomplish could be magical. If he can manage the pressure of leading a team with his huge contract, then it’s safe to say that the Vikings could easily find their way back to the top of the NFC. The hurdle that Cousins will face is expectations.
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Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
