Kirk Cousins Rumors: Vikings 'Hopeful' QB Signs Contract but 'Going to Have Limits'

The Minnesota Vikings reportedly want to bring Kirk Cousins back in 2024, but they aren't going to break the bank to do so.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on the situation during Sunday's SportsCenter and noted the Vikings are "at least bracing for that possibility" that Cousins will negotiate with other teams such as the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.

"They have a week before then to continue talking," Fowler said of the Vikings. "So, they had some talks in Indianapolis. The feeling around the league is that Minnesota is hopeful, they want to do a deal with Cousins, but they're not going to live and die by it. They're going to have limits here. Those limits are probably pertaining to the guaranteed money in the contract."

ESPN's Dan Graziano echoed some of those sentiments when he reported his "sense" is Minnesota still wants Cousins back even though he "has a very specific idea in mind for what he wants in a new contract, and the Vikings so far have not made an offer that matches it. The ball might be in the team's court at this point. Cousins and his family like Minnesota and would be happy to stay and finish his career there, but it doesn't sound like he's willing to offer the team a hometown discount."

Even with the Falcons—who Graziano noted could "make a strong pursuit"—looming as a potential destination, it isn't shocking the Vikings would put "limits" on a potential Cousins contract.

After all, he will be 36 years old during the 2024 campaign and coming off a major injury in a torn Achilles. There is no guarantee he will return to the form he demonstrated ahead of the injury when he completed 69.5 percent of his passes for 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions in the first eight games of the season.

He was on track to throw for more than 4,000 yards for the fourth consecutive year.

The 2024 campaign figures to be a win-now one for the Vikings, who went 13-4 in 2022 when Cousins was healthy and will eventually have to worry about wide receiver Justin Jefferson's contract since he is only signed through the upcoming season.

If Cousins goes to Atlanta or elsewhere, that may impact the team's timeline. Perhaps the Vikings would then use the No. 11 pick of the 2024 draft on a quarterback and start focusing more on the future with the veteran no longer under center.

That could have a domino effect with Jefferson down the line as well, although keeping him around would surely make life easier for a young quarterback's development.

It all starts with the Cousins negotiations, though, and the two sides are yet to finalize any common ground.