EAGAN, Minn. -- Center Garrett Bradbury will be snapping the ball to Kirk Cousins again in 2023. But it remains to be seen how much longer after that the combination will remain intact for the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings on Tuesday announced they have agreed to re-sign Bradbury, and a source said the free agent will get a three-year, $15.75 million deal. But while Cousins is under contract for 2023, the sides did not reach any deal on an extension beyond then. So the Vikings have done a simple restructure of Cousins’ deal to create $16 million of cap room for this year.
Minnesota took Cousins’ $20 million roster bonus, which was due Friday, and added two voidable years to his contract beyond the two already on his deal. So that $20 million was spread out over the maximum allowed five years, and Cousins’ cap number goes from $36.25 million to $20.25 million for 2023.
The Vikings on Tuesday also announced they have agreed to re-sign free-agent quarterback Nick Mullens to remain as Cousins’ backup.
The Vikings entered this week about $7 million over the cap and must get under it by 3 p.m. Wednesday. They made some moves Monday on restructuring contracts and agreed to free-agent deals with pass rusher Marcus Davenport and tight end Josh Oliver, and the restructuring of Cousins’ deal was pivotal to helping them ease their 2023 cap woes.
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It now appears Cousins, 34, will be bound for free agency next March. So it remains to be seen if he still will be with the Vikings in 2024.
Bradbury, taken with the No. 18 pick in the first round of the 2019 draft, has played the past four seasons for Minnesota. The Vikings last May didn’t pick up Bradbury’s fifth-year option for 2023 worth $13.202 but he told the Pioneer Press last June that he still wanted to re-sign with the team. He reiterated that throughout the season, when he had by far the best showing of his career.
Cousins joined the Vikings in 2018, and Bradbury became his starting center the following year. The two have an excellent rapport.
Bradbury missed the last five games of the regular season because of a lower back injury but returned to play in Minnesota’s 31-24 loss to the New York Giants to open the playoffs. Late in the regular season, he was first replaced by Austin Schlottmann and then by Chris Reed.
Reed has restructured his contract to remain with the Vikings. Schlottmann, who suffered a broken fibula above his ankle Jan. 1 at Green Bay, has recovered well from the injury and the Vikings have been looking into re-signing him. However, it remains to be seen if that will happen.
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