The Minnesota Vikings finalized a three-year, $84 million fully guaranteed contract with Kirk Cousins, securing their latest franchise quarterback to try to fetch that elusive first Super Bowl victory.
After arriving in Minnesota via private plane on Wednesday evening with his wife and infant son, Cousins dined at a downtown Minneapolis restaurant with general manager Rick Spielman, head coach Mike Zimmer, offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski, wide receiver Adam Thielen, and tight end Kyle Rudolph, among others.
For Thielen and Rudolph, Cousins will represent the fourth primary quarterback in as many seasons.
As long as he stays healthy throughout the summer, Cousins will also represent the eighth starting quarterback for a season opener in the past nine years.
Former Vikings QBs Teddy Bridgewater (Jets), Sam Bradford (Cardinals), and Case Keenum (Broncos) all became free agents this week and signed with other teams, leaving the team without a backup plan if Cousins balked at their offer.
Cousins reached his opportunity to truly cash in after the Redskins acquired Alex Smith in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Redskins, meanwhile, signed Smith on Thursday to a four-year, $94 million contract extension through 2022, with $71 million guaranteed.
Benson, owner of Saints, dies at 90
Tom Benson, a successful auto dealer who brought the New Orleans Saints their only winning seasons and a victory in Super Bowl XLIV in 2009, died on Wednesday. He was 90.
Benson, who also owned the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans since 2012, made his mark with the Saints, which he bought in 1985 for $70 million and is now valued at $1 billion. Obituary, B8.
Raiders land Nelson, cut ties with Crabtree
The Oakland Raiders signed free agent wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who agreed to a two-year deal after being released by the Packers on Tuesday following a down 2017 season, and released Michael Crabtree after three seasons. It left Nelson and Amari Cooper as the team’s starting recievers.
The Raiders also signed former Tampa Bay running back Doug Martin to a one-year contract.
Dolphins release veteran C Pouncey
Three-time Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey, 28, was released by the Miami Dolphins as part of their offensive line makeover, which coincided with the acquisition of center Daniel Kilgore in a trade with San Francisco, and the signing of four-time Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton (2 years, $18 million) . . . The Carolina Panthers and unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Dontari Poe agreed on a three-year, $28 million deal. Poe, 27, a 6-foot-3-inch, 346-pounder who played five seasons for the Chiefs, will replace Star Lotulelei, who signed a five-year deal with the Bills on Wednesday . . . The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Philadelphia Eagles run-stopper Beau Allen, 6-3, 327 pounds, to a three-year, $15 million contract . . . Former Indianapolis Colts receiver Donte Moncrief signed a one-year, $7 million contract with AFC South rival Jacksonville, which lost Pro Bowl receiver Allen Robinson who signed with the Chicago Bears (3 years, $42 million) . . . The Chiefs agreed to a three-year, $7.5 million contract with 35-year-old punter Dustin Colquitt.