Minnesota Vikings icon Jared Allen has given his verdict on the team's decision to part ways with Kirk Cousins, suggesting it was a wise move for the franchise's future.
Cousins, after a six-year stint with the Vikings, opted out of an extension and took his talents to the Atlanta Falcons, where he aims to chase a Super Bowl ring in the twilight of his career. Despite delivering four winning seasons, Cousins couldn't steer the Vikings to Super Bowl glory.
Now 36, Cousins' departure paves the way for rookie JJ McCarthy to spearhead the Vikings' offense. While acknowledging a potential adjustment period without Cousins, Allen expressed confidence in the strategic shift during his chat on 'Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich'.
Allen remarked: "It shooked out how it should've shooked out. I would have moved on, just because, nothing personal from the standpoint of Kirk, but you have to look where the future is gonna be. Even if you get two or three great years out of Kirk, for that kind of money, you're setting yourself behind getting a good draft pick and in the right direction."
"I think with the coaching staff you have there, you make the right decision - you invest more in the young guys, you invest in the guys around the offense, especially now that you have McCarthy... I think they did the right thing."
He added: "And at the end of the day, especially from a quarterback standpoint, you're judged by wins and losses and Super Bowl, playoff wins. That's why they get the big money. ... We were no closer to winning a Super Bowl investing all that money into Kirk - we went to the NFC Championship Game with Case Keenum, and we never got back there."
After signing wide receiver Justin Jefferson to a monster extension this week, Minnesota will turn to former Michigan quarterback and national championship star JJ McCarthy to take his place in the offense. And while McCarthy is sure to be the long-term starter, he may not be given the role to begin the season - with Sam Darnold currently slated to start ahead of him.
Seen as a player who could benefit from being redshirted in his first season in the NFL, Minnesota could opt to use this year as a developmental season for 21 year-old McCarthy - even perhaps making him the starter towards the back end of the season.
The Vikings will not be seen as contenders this year, in a loaded division with the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
