Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins looked to be on his way to possibly yet another Pro Bowl selection this season until a torn Achilles prematurely ended his year after just eight games.

He will be a free agent once the new league year begins, and at age 35, one has to wonder how much interest he will attract across the league, especially given he recently suffered an injury that can almost single-handily end an athlete’s career.

Peter Schrager said on FS1’s “First Things First” that Cousins is still part of the fabric of the team and that he’d be “shocked” if the signal-caller leaves Minnesota.

"Kirk Cousins, to me, is a Viking. … I'd be shocked if the Vikings let Kirk Cousins walk out of the building." — @PSchrags pic.twitter.com/I1PgZq4qaN

— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) February 21, 2024

In eight games this year, Cousins threw for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 69.5 percent of his pass attempts, and those numbers rivaled the production of almost any NFL signal-caller during that span.

Bringing him back, as long as he’s able to still play at a high level, would save the Vikings the challenge of having to integrate a new quarterback into their system and roster.

As long as they have high-level quarterback play, they should be able to make a serious run at a playoff spot next season.

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is one of the very best players at his position, and fellow wideout Jordan Addison had an outstanding rookie year with 911 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns.

They also have an excellent tight end in T.J. Hockenson, who caught 95 passes and registered 960 yards and five touchdowns.

Minnesota has some work to do on defense — star linebacker Danielle Hunter will also be a free agent — but they have plenty of advantages in their corner right now.

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