The new NFL season doesn’t start until March 14th and right out of the gate the big free agent will be Kirk Cousins. There should be quite a few teams interested in Cousins, but what will they be willing to pay him?
The New York Jets have made it clear that they will be strong players for Cousins. Josh McCown made 13 starts for the Jets last season and played well, but they view McCown as their back up plan if they can’t sign Cousins. Bryce Petty did make 3 starts for the Jets last season, but Christian Hackenberg who was a 2nd round pick in the 2016 draft has yet to see the field. Does an add like Cousins make the Jets a playoff contender? Cousins could have some weapons to throw to as Robbie Anderson looked like he was developing into a big play threat towards the end of the season. Jermaine Kearse is a solid #2 type of receiver and if Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a good tight end as long as he can keep himself on the field. The thing that might keep Cousins away from the Jets is the fact that he’ll probably be looking for a team that can get into the playoffs and even with him at quarterback it’s unclear if the Jets could make that leap.
The Denver Broncos used three different starting quarterbacks last season and while the reports are they’re interested in Sam Bradford you have to think they’ll take a look at Cousins. While Bradford and Cousins may be similar Bradford has a history of injuries that Cousins doesn’t have; so that may put him at the top of the Broncos quarterback choices. While the Broncos don’t have a strong receiving tight end they do have two very good wide receivers in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders to throw to. The Broncos also still have a top defense that could help them get right back in the thick of the playoffs. Also remember the Broncos had a 1000 rusher in C.J. Anderson; so there’s a running game to help Cousins out. Will see if the Broncos are set on Bradford or if they’ll take a look at Cousins.
The newest team to seem to be interested in Cousins are the Minnesota Vikings. All three of the Vikings quarterbacks from last season are free agents; so they’re going to have to find someone. Case Keenum played very well for Minnesota last season going 11-3 in 14 starts, but the Vikings have announced that they won’t use the franchise tag on Keenum and he’ll be allowed to become a free agent. Minnesota has on one of the better defenses in the NFL and if it’s weapons Cousins is looking for the Vikings have them as well. Adam Thielen had a breakout season in 2017 catching 91 passes for 1276 yards. Stefon Diggs missed a couple of games due to injury, but still caught 8 touchdowns passes and don’t forget tight end Kyle Rudolph. Rudolph also had 8 touchdowns catches to go along with 57 receptions. The Vikings will also have Dalvin Cook returning from injury to be their feature running back. Cook was averaging 4.8 yards per carry before he got hurt in Week 4. The Vikings may have the best set of weapons for Cousins plus the fact that they just went to the NFC Championship game might be enough to get Cousins to sign there.
With the retirement of Carson Palmer it’s clear that the Arizona Cardinals need to find themselves a quarterback and you have to think that they’ll also check in a Cousins. Even juggling three different starting quarterbacks the Cardinals managed to finish 8-8 last season. Where could they have ended up had they had one solid starting quarterback? Larry Fitzgerald has decided to return after there was some talk he might join Palmer in retirement. Fitzgerald is coming off a 109 catch season while gaining 1156 yards. Now the Cardinals need to find that 2nd receiver to compliment Fitzgerald and they have a group of guys that they could find him from. Jaron Brown, J.J. Nelson and John Brown can all fill that role it’s just which one will step up to take the spot. The most important thing for the Cardinals and something that could be a factor in Cousins coming to Arizona is the return of the David Johnson. Johnson played just one game last season, but he’s a duel threat out of the backfield and is looked at as a Top 5 running back in the NFL when healthy. With a veteran core of players and a returning top running back could the addition of a quarterback like Cousins get the Cardinals into the playoffs?
Depending on What Cousins is looking for he could get the most money from the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have the most salary cap room in the NFL this off season, but is this some place Cousins would be looking to play. Running back Duke Johnson was the Browns leading receiver with 74 catches as the team doesn’t really have a true #1 receiver. Rashard Higgins and Ricardo Louis tied for the most receptions by a wide receiver with 27. Corey Coleman the 15th overall pick in the 2016 draft played just 9 games last season due to injury. He’ll be look at to establish himself as the #1 receiver. The Browns took tight end David Njoku with the 29th pick in the 1st round in the 2017 draft and while he was looked at as a talent that still needed to learn the game he did catch 32 passes an led the team with 4 touchdown receptions. Now Cleveland doesn’t appear to be a landing spot for Cousins and all the talk is that Cleveland will draft a quarterback with either the 1st or 4th pick in the upcoming draft, but it’s something to be looked at because the Browns have the money to offer him.
We’ve got to see a little bit of Shohei Ohtani as a pitcher and a hitter early in spring training. By hitting and pitching this season it will make him an interesting fantasy player. Now we use Yahoo to run your leagues and they’ve told us that he’ll be considered as two separate players. You’ll be able to draft Ohtani the pitcher or Ohtani the hitter. I have to see a few more at bats from Ohtani before I’ll be able to figure out what kind of a hitter he might be. With that being said I think if I had to choose between them I’d take Ohtani the pitcher over Ohtani the hitter. Of course there is still quite a it of spring training left; so that could change. It will also help to know just how many at bats he’ll get when he’s not pitching.
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