NFL Rumors: Vikings won't commit to Kirk Cousins beyond this season
Kirk Cousins contract isn't guaranteed to go beyond this season, as he has nothing but void years left on his deal. While Cousins arguably had one of the best seasons of his career in 2022, he's 36 years old and entering the latter stages of his prime. It's time for the Vikings to think about a succession plan.
However, as we saw with Minnesota's NFC North rival, the Green Bay Packers, that doesn't necessarily mean parting ways with Cousins after this season. Instead, the Vikes could select their quarterback of the future in the NFL Draft, but allow Cousins to continue taking starting snaps until they're ready to throw a young gun into the fire. Owner Mark Wilf won't commit to that plan.
"We'll leave that to [G.M.] Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah] and coach [Kevin O'Connell] to work through those discussions," Wilf said, per Pro Football Talk. "There's always conversations on that. But our real focus is 100 percent on 2023 and getting where we need to be, and where I know we can be."
Cousins ceiling, barring anything unforeseen, is likely how he played last year. In what will be his second season in Kevin O'Connell's offense, it's reasonable to expect the team to take another step forward, and Cousins to deliver another division title.
It's unclear exactly how much time Cousins has left to achieve postseason success in Minnesota, though.
NFL Rumors: 49ers make QB depth chart as complicated as possible
Brock Purdy is the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback, that much is clear. While he won't play in the first preseason game, the 49ers have backed Purdy every step of the way after he led them to the postseason in 2022, only to suffer a traumatic injury against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
Behind Purdy is Trey Lance OR Sam Darnold. One would assume those two players would be ranked second and third, in some order, on the depth chart. You would be incorrect, however, as Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper lines out:
"Purdy is not expected to play in that game and the 49ers' choice of a starter might reveal more about their plans at backup quarterback. The depth chart lists Trey Lance or Sam Darnold as the No. 2. Brandon Allen is the fourth and final quarterback in the group.
The 49ers found out last season that there are times when you can't have enough quarterbacks and their handling of this year's group heading into the cut to 53 players will be watched closely around the league."
Lance, for one, has been mentioned in trade rumors this offseason. If Kyle Shanahan is smart, he will give Lance plenty of reps this preseason and in training camp with the hope that some QB-needy team will come calling.
NFL Rumors: What's the latest with Chiefs, Chris Jones?
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones sent out a cryptic tweet on Tuesday night, in which he stated how much he loved KC and Chiefs Kingdom. As nice as that may be during normal times, this is NFL Training Camp, and Jones has yet to report over a contract dispute.
Jones is entering the final season of his deal, and he's holding out for a contract that makes him the second-highest paid defensive player in football. Aaron Donald is the top-ranked player at his position. Jones prefers a deal in the $30 million AAV range.
Any trade of Jones is off the table for now, as the Chiefs want to compete for another Super Bowl in 2024. A deal for Jones would land Brett Veach at least one, if not multiple, first-round draft choices. Pass rushers are hard to come by, and Jones is coming off arguably his best season yet. As for the Chiefs mindset, Veach thinks a new deal is just a matter of time.
"He's a great player, and he wants a big contract. He deserves a big contract, and I don't think there's any surprises in that regard," Veach said Monday, h/t Sports Illustrated. "But there's just some hurdles we have to work through in regards to how we can keep this thing going for the short- and long-term. But we've never wavered on, 'This is a guy that we want to exhaust all of our efforts to get done,' because that's how much we think of him."
The Chiefs front office has remained confident in a new contract, and stood their ground with Jones through the entire process. The overall money involved in said contract doesn't seem to be the problem, but rather the length, guaranteed money and incentives.
