The Vikings are under pressure to secure quarterback Kirk Cousins’s contract extension before he enters free agency, and individuals can now place bets on which team he will join next.
According to DraftKings odds revealed during Friday’s PFT Live segment, the Vikings are still the top contenders with odds at -200.
However, the team following closely behind is Atlanta, with odds at +300. Other potential destinations include a return to Washington with odds at +500, and the Raiders at +800. The Titans and Patriots both stand at +1200, while the Steelers are at +1600. Meanwhile, the Bucs stand at +3500, and the Broncos and Bears trail at +5000.
The Falcons emerge as a significant possibility, particularly due to Cousins’s wife, Julie, having roots in Alpharetta, where her parents currently reside. Considering the family’s six-year tenure away from their previous residence, returning to a place associated with one of the couple could be appealing.
Joining the Falcons presents intriguing prospects for Cousins. The NFC South division, where the Falcons compete, is notably less competitive than the NFC North. Additionally, the Falcons’ new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson shares a coaching lineage with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, both having ties to Sean McVay. Furthermore, the Falcons’ new coach Raheem Morris commands respect within the league, and the team boasts talented offensive players such as Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London.
Although there have been shifts in the market dynamics over the past few days, with the Steelers initially having favorable odds at +800, the top two contenders, Minnesota and Atlanta, have remained consistent.
Therefore, it is imperative for the Vikings to expedite their efforts if they genuinely intend to retain Cousins. Once Atlanta initiates its pursuit of Cousins, potentially during the Scouting Combine in just over a week, it might be too late for the Vikings to intervene. Should Cousins ultimately sign with the Falcons, it would evoke memories of the 1998 NFC Championship game for fans from a quarter-century ago.
