PHERSY:Hey Feldy, long time no talk. Between hockey and wrestling tournament, we’ve been a bit busy lately. Our busy season is winding down, so let’s dig into some NFL free agency, which opens March 14. Feldy, as you know, the Vikings have a critical decision to make regarding the quarterback position. They’ve already decided not to give Case Keenum the franchise tag, which eliminates one option. Most of the talk around the Vikings includes the potential signing of Kirk Cousins, to a frightening three-year, $91-million deal. Feldy, that’s what it takes to sign a franchise QB right now, but what are your thoughts on investing that kind of cash in Cousins?
FELDY: I’ve come around on the idea of signing Cousins for a few reasons. First and foremost, if the Vikings do this deal, there are no more excuses, no complaining about holes to fill or being one or two players away. If they give Cousins $91 mil guaranteed, it’s Super Bowl or bust. Second, he’s averaged 27 TD passes, 12 interceptions and 4,392 passing yards over the last three seasons and he hasn’t missed a game. He’s better and more reliable than Keenum, Bridgewater or Bradford. Third, Dalvin Cook will be back, giving the Vikes a ferocious run game to couple with Cousins and the passing attack. ... Hand me your cup, Phersy, I’ll share my Purple Kool-Aid with you.
PHERSY: But what about the offensive line? Keenum wasn’t outstanding in the final few weeks of last season, but I felt the line was the real issue. Keenum propped up that unit all season. And I don’t care if Uncle Rico is playing QB for the Vikings ... if you don’t protect him, he won’t be successful. When a quarterback is eating up $30 million worth of salary-cap space, it makes it very tough to build a formidable offensive line. So, is it worth investing in a franchise QB — and I’m still not convinced Cousins is one ... people don’t let franchise QBs walk — if he won’t be adequately protected?
FELDY: The Vikings certainly need to add linemen. They were banged up late in the season and their depth was not ... they had no depth up front. They fixed the tackle spots last offseason and they need to address the interior positions in the draft and free agency. As for eating up cap space, well, yes, some free agents might leave because of it. But is it better to have to replace, say, Stefon Diggs or Anthony Barr, than to watch a QB carousel every year? I get it; a lot of fans get queasy when they hear $30 million per year for a QB who’s never won a playoff game. But windows of opportunity don’t stay open long in the NFL — especially without a game-changing QB. So why not try to get through that window while it’s open?
PHERSY:Here’s my other question — all season long, coach Mike Zimmer stuck to his guns saying "Teddy is my QB." He kept repeating that over and over and over until Keenum had played so well, it became impossible to stick with that line of thinking. So, what changed? Why is Teddy suddenly no longer the QB of the future? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a "Teddy guy" by any stretch of the imagination. I’ve never felt his upside was that of a top 5 or maybe even top 10 QB in the NFL. But I’d love to hear what Zimmer thinks of letting Teddy walk in favor of Cousins. I don’t know that there’s a right or wrong answer to any of these questions. Fans like us are probably just along for the ride, for better or worse...
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FELDY: I think what changed is, it became impossible for the fan base to not rally around Keenum, and Zimmer was certainly not a Case Keenum Guy. Zim didn’t want to hitch his wagon to Keenum and he couldn’t hitch it to Cousins during last season. One factor we haven’t mentioned is new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. He watched Cousins up close and personal twice during last season. He knows what the Vikings could be getting. I’m guessing he has sold Zimmer and others inside Winter Park on what this offense could look like. The early contact period for NFL teams and agents of free agents opens at 3 p.m. Monday. We just might know by Monday evening if Cousins is coming.
