Inside Kirk Cousins' Contract and Impact on Vikings in 2027 Revealed in New NFL Rumors After Trade

The Minnesota Vikings may find offensive stability and consistency this season with quarterback Kirk Cousins at the helm, but their long-term plans at the position remain murky.

Minnesota's trade for Cousins "guarantees" that the team will be looking for another starting quarterback next spring, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert.

The Las Vegas Raiders signed the 38-year-old quarterback to a one-year, $11.3 million contract prior to the season, but the language in the deal is a bit more complicated. On paper, Cousins' deal is five years for $172 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Along with a $10 million roster bonus for 2027 that is fully guaranteed, the contract includes a two-year club option worth $80 million that becomes fully guaranteed if Cousins is on the team on the fifth day of the league year in March. The last two years of the deal are void years.

If the rest of the season goes well, Minnesota could pick up the two-year option to keep Cousins on the team through 2028, but that's unlikely given the $80 million price tag. If the Vikings aren't able to sign Cousins to a new contract prior to the option kicking in, they'll have to release him.

The savvy veteran is notorious for not taking a discount. That's evident by his $333 million in career earnings, which have passed Tom Brady for fourth-most in NFL history.