Kirk Cousins isn’t going to leave the Vikings in the dark for the first few days of NFL free agency.
The Vikings expect to hear from Cousins by Sunday night on whether he plans to return or explore the free-agency market, according to The Athletic.
The 35-year-old quarterback is the No. 1 free agent in the league on The Post’s top 30 rankings, compiled with the help of sources.
It is important for the Vikings – and other teams – to know Cousins’ plans because his contract does not void until Wednesday and thus there will be two days of free-agent negotiations before he can agree to a contract elsewhere.
If Cousins is not committed to re-signing with the Vikings, they might want to pivot to pursuing Russell Wilson, Baker Mayfield or some of the other free agents.
If Cousins is not going to test the market, then other teams — primarily the Falcons — need to work out their Plan Bs, which could include trading for Justin Fields.
The Vikings and Cousins were still negotiating as of the end of last week and a reunion remained very much in the mix, according to ESPN. Minnesota has made offers but “will have its limits,” per the same report.
Cousins has been a master of maximizing value in his career, through franchise tags with Washington and getting the first-ever fully guaranteed contract of the salary-cap era when he signed for three years and $84 million in 2018.
He played last season on a one-year, $35 million deal that expires Wednesday, upping his total earnings over six years in Minnesota to $185 million.
The Vikings can offer familiarity to Cousins’ family, popularity with the fans and the opportunity to keep throwing to All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson.
The Falcons, who are in win-now mode under new head coach Raheem Morris, are seen as the biggest threat to poaching Cousins.
Morris coached on the defensive side of the ball when Cousins was starting in Washington.