When Kirk Cousins signed a three-year, $84 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason it split NFL fans. Most would agree that it’s obscene how much professional athletes get paid in general, but giving a quarterback nearly $90 million guaranteed; especially one that few would consider among the league’s elite? Why?
Through Week 6 of the NFL season, Cousins has shown why he’s been worth every penny.
At the time of this writing, Kirk Cousins ranks fourth in the league in passing yards (1,921), t-sixth in passing touchdowns (12), sixth in average passing yards per game (320), and has only thrown three interceptions on the year.
Cousins also has averaged a 102.7 passer rating, which ranks above notable quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers (100.1), Tom Brady (98.2) and Matthew Stafford (93.8).
The Vikings’ QB’s six fumbles (five lost) look bad on paper but are inflated a bit by the three he had in the puzzling loss to the 27-6 Buffalo Bills in Week 3. For a player who has historically been plagued for his high amount of turnovers, he’s on the right end of the leaderboard for once.
Now, the Vikings’ 2-2-1 record is nothing to be too excited about, but the team is still tied for second in the NFC North with five divisional matchups left and five teams that (currently) have a sub-.500 record (including the Lions).
Most would tout Cousins’ fourth-quarter charge, bringing the Vikings back from 17 points down against the Packers, as his most impressive performance in his young Vikings career, and that’s a fine choice. The tape doesn’t lie:
35/48
425 yards
4 TDs
118.8 rating @KirkCousins8 put on a clinic yesterday. pic.twitter.com/HDwK6SyIGT— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 17, 2018
His performance against the still undefeated Los Angeles Rams was just as good.
Despite being sacked three times in the game and the defense giving up long touchdown after long touchdown, Cousins was 36-for-50 for 422 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and despite the one fumble lost, a 117.2 passer rating. That’s no easy feat from a defensive line that boasts Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers that was pitted up against the Vikings’ woeful offensive line.
It’s only been five games, but Kirk Cousins has earned his paychecks and then some.