NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal released the final version of his QB Index, where he ranks all 32 starting quarterbacks in the league. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was actually down a couple spots from last week, but he ultimately finished the season ranked 13th on the list.
“There’s this idea that Kirk Cousins is frustratingly, consistently stuck in the middle,” Rosenthal wrote. “And while that’s true on the macro level, the opposite is also true. Like Cam Newton once upon a time, Cousins is consistently streaky. He’s either great or terrible, and this season was no different.”
Few quarterbacks can stuff a stat sheet like Cousins.
He finished the year with 4,221 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. The biggest criticisms surrounding him often involve the lack of instances where he’s come through in the clutch moments to beat good football teams.
There’s also the fact that his exorbitant contract is a strain on the roster. It’s expected to count $45 million against the cap next season, which is the third-highest in the league.
There are a lot of teams in the league that would prefer a “stuck-in-the-middle” Kirk Cousins situation over their current one. It’s hard to find good quarterbacks, much less great ones. But is the Cousins ride worth the price of admission?
The Vikings have some serious decisions looming once they hire a new general manager.
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