Would the Minnesota Vikings be Better with Kirk Cousins at Quarterback?

The Minnesota Vikings are sitting at a surprising 6-2 record halfway through the 2024 season. Their defense has been the catalyst behind the strong start, scoring three touchdowns. Yet Sam Darnold has been the main storyline.

Darnold has played the same number of games as Kirk Cousins in 2023 before he tore his Achilles at Lambeau Field in Week 8, ending his season and tenure in Minnesota. At this point, it’s impossible not to compare the two quarterbacks. Cousins has looked great in Atlanta, leading the Falcons to a 6-3 record and sitting atop the NFC South.

Because of this, many wonder what the Vikings would look like if they still had Cousins. Coupled with some of Darnold’s head-scratching interceptions, it’s natural to imagine how strong this Vikings team could look with Cousins. However, Darnold’s performance this year may not be as far off from Cousins’ 2023 performance as expected.

2024 Passing Production: Sam Darnold vs Kirk Cousins

Let’s begin by looking at the counting stats in the passing game.

Cousins was averaging nearly 40 more passing yards per game than Darnold, but the Vikings haven’t asked Darnold to throw quite as often this year. This has produced both good and bad results.

Darnold has a 7.6 TD% this season, 1.8 points higher than Cousins in 2023. But Darnold has also thrown more interceptions in fewer attempts, resulting in a 3.1 INT%, almost twice as high as Cousins’ mark of 1.6%.

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Overall, the two quarterbacks have completed the same percentage of their passes. This helps give them each cumulative passer ratings over 100, with Cousins at 103.8 and Darnold at 107.8. Cousins’ worst game was a two-TD, two-INT performance against the Panthers, resulting in a passer rating of 80.7.

Darnold’s worst game of 2024 was the London game against the Jets, a zero-TD, one-INT game that resulted in a season-low passer rating of 50.3. Altogether, both quarterbacks align similarly here.

Rushing, Sacks, and Fumbles

Although he’ll never be confused with Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson, Darnold does bring more athletic ability and mobility than Cousins did in Minnesota.

Once again, Cousins was more efficient in avoiding disaster. He took fewer sacks despite dropping back 70 more times than Darnold through eight games. However, Darnold’s ability to scramble and make plays on the ground has made up some of the difference lost in sacks. It also has helped Darnold get out and extend pass plays, leading to completions or throwaways on plays that a quarterback like Cousins would have had no chance of extending.

Both quarterbacks have struggled with fumbles and have had similar luck in recovering loose balls. Cousins’ bad fortune in holding onto the ball coincided with the rest of the team struggling with ball security early in 2023. Darnold’s fumbles haven’t proven to be catastrophic yet, although his fumble against the Colts put the Vikings in a 7-0 hole. Once again, any edge one quarterback gains in this section is lost in another part.

Financial Implications for Minnesota Vikings

Some fans wonder what the 2024 Vikings would look like with Cousins instead of Darnold. But the financial flexibility that the Vikings gained long-term from Cousins’ departure allowed them to sign key free agents on defense.

So, although Darnold may not be playing much better or worse than Cousins, the rest of the team has played better. The Vikings are in the top 10 in scoring offense and defense in 2024, resulting in a 6-2 record. Last year, the Vikings’ defense got off to a slow start, and the team clawed its way to 4-4 when Cousins was lost for the season.

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The Vikings have received similar production from Darnold as they did from Cousins in 2023, but it’s been at a discounted rate. Darnold is only making $10 million this year and will be a free agent after the season, setting the stage for 2024 rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy to take over.

Meanwhile, Cousins, who still accounts for a $28.5 million cap hit on Minnesota’s books in 2024, has a cap hit of $25 million this year in Atlanta. That number escalates to $40 million in 2025 and could continue to climb if the Falcons bring him back beyond then. This will reduce their cap flexibility and give them a better ability to add free agents in the upcoming years.

Maximizing Value

With a cheaper option putting up similar numbers to their previous quarterback, the Vikings are maximizing value at the most important position in sports. O’Connell is squeezing everything he can out of Darnold while the team navigates toward salary cap freedom in 2025.

This wouldn’t be possible with Cousins in 2024, even if he continued to play similar to how he played pre-injury in 2023 and how he’s playing right now in Atlanta. It remains to be seen if Darnold can maintain this level of play. But right now, it appears the Vikings gambled and won with their quarterback situation.