Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.
As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.
Background
Name: Kirk Cousins
Rank: 7
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 205 lbs
Experience: 12th year
College: Michigan State
Stats (In NFL): 142 games played, 137 starts, 72-63-2 record, 66.8% completion, 37,140 yards, 252 touchdowns, 105 interceptions, 290 rushes, 933 yards, 19 touchdowns
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 6
Kevin Fielder: 8
Judd Zulgad: 4
Saivion Mixson: 7
Average: 6.25
Best case scenario
Cousins takes advantage of having the same play caller for back-to-back years for the first time in his Vikings career.
Going into the 2022 season, there were a lot of criticisms of Cousins. He didn’t try to thread the ball into tight windows. He wasn’t clutch when it mattered. He struggled in prime time. Cousins quieted all of those in 2022. Kevin O’Connell invoked the best of Cousins week in and week out while he was still learning the system. Things weren’t perfect, but the growth he showed was real. Not having to learn an offensive system and being able to build upon that foundation could make a massive impact in growing the offense.
Worst case scenario
Even though Cousins showed growth last season, the numbers regressed and his worst habits still showed up in big moments.
Who is the real Cousins? It’s very possible that last season was an anomaly and he returns back to the form which invoked endless debate and frustration among fans and analysts alike. This team lost a lot of talent, especially on a putrid defense, and that could easily put too much pressure on Cousins. It’s never been about the things Cousins does well (which is a significant amount), but the areas in which he falters and struggles. Those issues have always hindered the Vikings from truly taking a big step forward.
What to expect in 2023
The most likely scenario is for Cousins to not necessarily improve, but to become more consistent and show growth in his operation of the offense. He will still try to fire the ball into tight places and throw a few extra interceptions because of that, but that’s fine. You take the good with the bad in that sense. Consistency will help them improve on the 58 three-and-outs that they had in 2022 and hopefully prevent blowout losses.
Previous player profiles
90-Garett Maag
89-Jack Podlesny
88-Zach Ojile
87-NaJee Thompson
86-Thayer Thomas
85-Sam Schluter
84-Jaelyn Williams
83-Jacky Chen
82-Cephus Johnson III
81-C.J. Coldon Jr.
80-Junior Aho
79-Malik Knowles
78-Abraham Beauplan
77-Wilson Huber
76-Lucky Jackson
75-Andre Carter II
74-Curtis Weaver
73-T.J. Smith
72-Alan Ali
71-Josh Sokol
70-Blake Proehl
69-John Reid
68-Trishton Jackson
67-Kalon Barnes
66-Benton Whitley
65-Calvin Avery
64-Theo Jackson
63-William Kwenkeu
62-Sheldon Day
61-Tay Gowan
60-Ross Blacklock
59-Vederian Lowe
58-Jaren Hall
57-Nick Muse
56-Ivan Pace, Jr
55-Jalen Reagor
54-Luiji Vilain
53-Austin Schlottmann
52-Troy Dye
51-Olisaemeka Udoh
50-Nick Mullens
49-Kene Nwangwu
48-DeWayne McBride
47-Jaquelin Roy
46-Jay Ward
45-Brandon Powell
44-Troy Reeder
43-James Lynch
42-Greg Joseph
41-Johnny Mundt
40-Blake Brandel
39-Mekhi Blackmon
38-Chris Reed
37-Joejuan Williams
36-Ryan Wright
35-Esezi Otomewo
34-Jalen Nailor
33-Ty Chandler
32-Jonathan Bullard
31-D.J. Wonnum
30-Patrick Jones II
29-Andrew DePaola
28-Ed Ingram
27-Lewis Cine
26-Garrett Bradbury
25-C.J. Ham
24-Josh Metellus
23-Andrew Booth Jr.
22-Akayleb Evans
21-Jordan Hicks
20-Camryn Bynum
19-Khyiris Tonga
18-Dean Lowry
17-Brian Asamoah
16-Alexander Mattison
15-Jordan Addison
14-Josh Oliver
13-Ezra Cleveland
12-K.J. Osborn
11-Harrison Phillips
10-Marcus Davenport
9-Byron Murphy Jr.
8-Ben Sims
