Vikings Extend Kirk Cousins, Use Franchise Tag On Another and re-sign a Running back

Every other sport is either canceled or postponed, but the NFL has come to save us from all the Corona virus news all over your news feeds! Today what is referred to as the “legal tampering” phase of NFL free agency began. It basically means teams can start talking to players about signing with them and come to agreements, but can’t OFFICIALLY sign them until this Wednesday when the new league year begins. Make sense? Nope, but whatever.

The Vikings started the day off strong as around 9AM Monday it was reported that they had extended Kirk Cousins’ contract by two years. Cousins was on the last year of his unprecedented three year, $84 million contract all of which was guaranteed. With the Vikings over the salary cap they were going to have trouble signing free agents on their team and those throughout the league. Last Friday they released cornerback Xavier Rhodes, defensive tackle Linval Joseph, and tight end David Morgan. Those releases freed up approximately $17 million. Today’s deal with Cousins made another $10 million available for the Vikings to work with. Cousins also reportedly changed his “no trade clause” in the contract and made it more possible for the team to save cap space over the next two years if they were to release him outright.

The Vikings then announced that they signed fullback CJ Ham to a four year deal at $3 million a year. If you don’t think he’s worth it then watch tape on runs by Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison and watch him blow up would be tacklers to make holes for them to run through. Later the team announced it had used it’s franchise tag designation on safety Anthony Harris who leads the league in interceptions over the last two seasons. This designation means they have him under a one year contract to still negotiate with him on an extended contract or possibly trade him. The Vikings then signed punter Britton Colquitt to have stability at that position with reports that kicker Dan Bailey was next in line to get signed.

These are all good signings for the franchise! It provides stability on the offensive side of the ball for sure. With the upcoming draft there are several weapons they can add to the Cousins’ led offense. The defense may have some new faces this year and they may also be garnered in the draft. However, there is some money to maybe re-sign cornerbacks Trae Waynes and/or Mackenzie Alexander or a key free agent that helps put the team over the hump to the Super Bowl. We won’t know until the season starts, but it’s something to talk about to take our minds off everything else going on in the world. Even if it’s only for a little bit I needed the break.