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NFL free agency, 2018: Biggest winners and losers from day one

By Peter Panacy

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings after the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Washington Redskins 38-30 at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings after the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Washington Redskins 38-30 at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 15: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins warms up before a game against the San Francisco 49ers at FedEx Field on October 15, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 15: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins warms up before a game against the San Francisco 49ers at FedEx Field on October 15, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Winners: Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings won the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes. And after falling just short of reaching the Super Bowl last year, one can hope this is the move to take this NFC North favorite over the top.

Cousins wins for obvious reasons. He’s signing a three-year, $84 million contract that’s fully guaranteed. Ask any cap/contracts expert out there, and he or she will tell you the fully guaranteed part is the only number that counts.

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Good for Cousins.

This could cause problems for the Vikings over the long run. Cousins’ contract likely means Minnesota won’t be able to keep its elite-level defense together much longer. A season or two, perhaps, but that’s it.

It shouldn’t matter, though. The Vikings’ window for a Super Bowl is right now. Not in a few years, not in 2019. Now.

Cousins will have some fine offensive weapons at his disposal. Wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen were excellent in 2017. So was tight end Kyle Rudolph. And with running back Dalvin Cook returning from injury, Minnesota’s offense could be pretty prolific, especially paired with that defense.

There will be looming questions about Cousins’ abilities during prime time and into the playoffs. But the Vikings are clearly banking on the right situation for the quarterback at the right time.

Next: FanSided's 2018 NFL free agency tracker

For now, that constitutes a win.