Vikings Reportedly Sign Kirk Cousins to $66 Million Contract Extension Out of Nowhere

It was always presumed that NFL free agency was going to deliver some surprise twists, but we're not so sure that anybody expected this.

At the very least, not this early in the legal tampering period.

On Monday, ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported out nowhere that the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to a two-year contract extension with quarterback Kirk Cousins. This news comes roughly 24 hours after it was reported that both parties were making zero progress in extension talks.

Vikings reached agreement on a 2-year extension with QB Kirk Cousins, per his agent.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020

Cousins' future in the North Start State is now secured through the 2022 season.

The Vikings famously gave Cousins a mammoth three-year, $84 million fully-guaranteed contract two years ago. At the time, that was a record deal for a quarterback. Now, he's got two more years plus a re-structured 2020 season, making this technically a three-year deal worth $96 million.

For the #Vikings and QB Kirk Cousins, it’s a 2-year deal worth $66M, source said. In all, it’s 3 years, $96M. $61M guaranteed at signing.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020

Minnesota cleared almost $19 million in cap space by cutting defensive veterans Xavier Rhodes and Linval Joseph last week, and this move will help relieve the franchise of Cousins' $31 million cap hit for the 2020 season -- specifically by chopping it down by almost a third.

Per source Kirk Cousins new contract reduces his cap number for 2020 by $10 million, to $21 million.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 16, 2020

The two-time Pro Bowler notched his first career playoff victory last season, leading the Vikings to an upset road win over the heavily-favored New Orleans Saints.

It appears that feat was enough to persuade Minny to commit more of its future to Cousins.