NFL Quarterback Power Rankings 2020: Patrick Mahomes is head of the class

Kirk Cousins gets trashed by fans for not showing up in big games, but sometimes fans overlook how well the former backup has played in recent history. In 2019, Cousins led the Vikings to a 10-6 record and finished the year with a single-season career-high 107.4 passer rating. Only Drew Brees, Lamar Jackson and Ryan Tannehill posted better passer ratings last season.

There is some truth to the sentiment than Cousins shrinks in the spotlight. While the former Redskin completed 69.1 percent of his pass attempts during the overall season, he completed fewer than 60.0% in both games against the Green Bay Packers and in matchups against the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks. Cousins did rise to the challenge against Dallas and Philadelphia, but neither of those teams crossed the ten-win threshold.

Unless Cousins begins performing better against elite competition, he’ll always hover between the tenth and fifteenth places on this list. In other words, he’ll always be one of the better starters in the NFL, but he’ll never be considered elite. It’s unfortunate because a quarterback with Cousins’ offensive weapons should perform at an elite level.

Even if Minnesota’s defense takes a step back this season, Cousins and the offense should haul the team to at least eight wins. However, the franchise’s best days under Mike Zimmer are likely over.