Mandatory Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Kirk Cousins takes a lot of criticism, but he’s still a good enough quarterback to lead the Vikings on a lengthy postseason run next year.
Vikings fans hoping for Kirk Cousins to suddenly develop into the best quarterback in the NFL are destined for disappointment. He’s never going to be a transcendent player under center. That does not mean he isn’t capable of leading the Vikings to a great season in 2020.
It’s safe to classify Cousins as a slightly above-average starting quarterback at this point in his career. He isn’t going to massively elevate the players around him, but he can make almost every throw required of a top-flight signal-caller. In other words, he can do a lot of damage with the quality collection of talent the Vikings have amassed on the offensive side of the ball.
It’s easy to criticize Cousins for what he can’t do, but turning your attention to what he is capable of should give Minnesota fans a lot of optimism. Here are five reasons why Cousins can lead the Vikings to the promised land in 2020.
Why the Vikings can win with Kirk Cousins
5. Mike Zimmer knows his strengths and weaknesses
Zimmer may not be an offensive guru, but he certainly knows Cousins inside and out at this point in their relationship. He’s not going to put his quarterback into positions where he can’t be successful.
That might frustrate Vikings fans who want to see the team’s offense opened up, but it will help Cousins play efficient football. Quarterbacks who complete just a shade under 70 percent of their passes with a touchdown to interception ratio of 3:1 have a solid habit of leading their respective teams to lots of wins. Zimmer isn’t going to ask Cousins to go far outside his comfort zone and that’s good news for Minnesota’s chances of winning the NFC North.