Insider Links ‘Aggressive’ Broncos to Rival 4-Time Pro Bowl QB
The Denver Broncos are going to be “aggressive” to find the right quarterback for Head Coach Sean Payton this offseason, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. So much so that they could even try signing pending Minnesota Vikings free agent Kirk Cousins.
“All options are on the table for the Broncos at quarterback,” Pelissero said on “The Rich Eisen Show” on February 23. “I would think that they’re going to look at all these free agent quarterbacks. I wouldn’t even rule out the possibility that the Broncos would make a run at Kirk Cousins.”
Cousins, 35, is coming off a one-year, $35 million contract.
He will count for at least $28 million against the Vikings’ cap if they don’t extend him by March 13, four days before Russell Wilson’s $35 million salary for 2025 becomes fully guaranteed.
There is mutual interest in Cousins’ return to the Vikings. But the Vikings might not be willing to meet the four-time Pro Bowler’s contract demands. Spotrac projects him to command a deal worth $39.3 million.
Cousins suffered a torn Achilles suffered in Week 8 last season.
He completed 69.5% of his passes for 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns, and five interceptions, going 4-4 on the season. He also appears to be recovering well.
“It’ll depend on the number,” Pelissero said. “You can certainly look at the numbers on paper and say, ‘How in the world are they going to get this done? They owe Russell Wilson $39 million whether he’s on the team or not.’ But again, Sean Payton is going to want somebody. Sean Payton believes – he said it before last season – he believed this was a playoff team.
“He’s gonna have the same mentality this year. They’re going to be aggressive. Everything that he’s ever known about team building is you’re willing to move those chips forward, you’re willing to take your run right now.
“If he believes Kirk Cousins gives him the best chance to compete in a really, really tough division … I wouldn’t take anything off the table.”
