If money was the top priority of quarterback Kirk Cousins in the NFL, then the New York Jets could have spent a first-round pick on another player than Sam Darnold.
The first part of the film that documented Cousins’ search process of a new team during this year’s free agency period is now up online, and in it, it’s been revealed that the Jets offered the signal-caller more money than what he got in a deal with the Minnesota Vikings.
Kirk Cousins left $90 million guaranteed from the #Jets on the table to accept the #Vikings' offer 😱
➡️ https://t.co/DGjygwS4CA(via @Vikings) pic.twitter.com/TxZtaWkSV9
— Yahoo Sports NFL (@YahooSportsNFL) August 28, 2018
In the video, Cousins is seen talking to his agent Mike McCartney on the phone and learning that the Jets have offered the quarterback a three-year contract worth $30 million. During that time, the Vikings already had an offer for Cousins, which was only $25 million. Thinking that he could use the Jets’ offer as leverage to force Minnesota into upping the ante of their initial offer. The strategy worked, but the deal he ultimately signed a three-year, $84 million with the Vikings which is still short of what the Jets had on his table.
Between the Jets and the Vikings, the latter presents Kirk Cousins the best opportunity to win a Super Bowl, which also played a big part in his decision to take the money and pack his bags for the Twin Cities.
Last season, despite a season-ending injury to running back Dalvin Cook and Case Keenum under center, the Vikings managed to go as deep as the NFC Championship Game, where they fell prey to the Philadelphia Eagles.