The Minnesota Vikings have a $45 million question to answer, and it begins with what they should do with Kirk Cousins.

Cousins’ career with the Vikings has been pretty polarizing. You’re either a fan, or you’d prefer the team move in a different direction. I don’t think he will ever win a Super Bowl, but I think it’s doable if he takes a massive pay cut.

If you’re paying that kind of money on a player, they better be as good as Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Nonetheless, I’m OK with giving Cousins another contract, just as long as it’s around $25 million a season.

Minnesota hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to be the next general manager, and it looks like Kevin O’Connell will be the next head coach. Will they want a fresh slate? Or would they prefer to play the season out and go from there?

If you want Cousins to return, this might be a good sign.

Charlie Walters of the Pioneer Press reported that he’d be surprised if the Vikings don’t trade Cousins.

It will be surprising if the Minnesota Vikings don’t trade quarterback Kirk Cousins and his 2022 $35 million guaranteed salary, which comes with a $45 million cap hit, before mid-March.

The most likely trade destinations reported were Carolina, Denver and Cleveland, with New Orleans also being a possibility.

I’d be curious if the San Francisco 49ers would have interest. Kyle Shanahan loves Cousins, and they don’t seem content with Jimmy Garoppolo. Is there a way Minnesota could land Trey Lance? That would be an interesting move, and something I’d seriously consider.

ESPN came out with an article and projected Cousins to stay in Minnesota because his contract is hard to move.

It’s hard to trade Cousins because of his $45 million cap hit next season. In my opinion, I never thought there was a chance he’d get traded this season. Based on other reports, I believe it’s doable, but the Vikings would lose some sort of asset.

Cousins made the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career after passing for 4,221 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions.