2018 camp preview: Is Kirk Cousins the Vikings' final piece for a Super Bowl run?

The Vikings begin reporting to the first training camp July 24 at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan. The first full-team practice is July 28. Check here for new details on tickets, parking and times.

Before then, the Star Tribune will take a look at each position group. Wednesday: Quarterbacks

On the 90-man roster: 4 quarterbacks

Locks: QB Kirk Cousins, QB Trevor Siemian

Practice squad candidates: QB Kyle Sloter, QB Peter Pujals

Changes
(+) Signed Kirk Cousins to a three-year, $84 million contract that was fully guaranteed, marking the first such fully guaranteed NFL contract of that magnitude. … Traded for Trevor Siemian from Denver, acquiring also a 2018 seventh-round pick (linebacker Devante Downs) in exchange for a 2019 fifth-round pick.

(-) Sam Bradford signed with the Cardinals on a one-year, $20 million deal, including a team option for 2019. … Case Keenum signed with the Broncos on a two-year, $36 million contract. … Teddy Bridgewater signed with the Jets for one year and $6 million, including just $500,000 guaranteed and an additional $9 million in incentives.

"It's a bit like drinking through a fire hose right now," Cousins said. "I need to use the five or six weeks of the summer to go back. All the stuff I didn't catch, go back through and see that I had starred this, I had check-marked this as something to go back to when we had time, rather than take time when we were so busy. I'll make a list, probably get on the phone with coach DeFilippo or give [QBs] coach [Kevin] Stefanski an email and just go through it all to get each question answered over the summer."

Siemian's addition gives the Vikings an experienced backup and another Keenum-like safety net. Of course, one of the pulls to Cousins is the fact he has started 49 consecutive games.

Top question
Is Kirk Cousins the final piece to a well-rounded roster? Questions remain about the 2018 Vikings, even to a reigning No. 1 defense that essentially collapsed in five fateful playoff quarters. There's no question larger than the $84 million man whom the Vikings hope is their quarterback for even another massive contract in the spring of 2021. By then, Cousins will have answered whether he's the quarterback to return the Vikings to the Super Bowl for the first time since January 1977.
What you should know
Only four quarterbacks had a better play-action passer rating than Case Keenum (111.8) with the Vikings last season. One of them was Kirk Cousins (118.7) in Washington, according to Pro Football Focus. Even with the enormous contract, the Vikings offense is still expected to run through Dalvin Cook. Cook flashed in his 3.5 games that he's the dynamic runner the Vikings need for modern football. So Cousins, and the deep ball, should be highly-emphasized complements to their zone running game.

Notable number
36.6% — The highest pressure rate Cousins faced in Washington, which was last season. Eight quarterbacks, including Keenum, caught heat at a higher rate behind their protection. It's notable that three different Vikings quarterbacks (Bridgewater, Bradford, Keenum) saw more pressure in each of Cousins' three seasons in Washington (2015-2017). So keeping Cousins clean needs to be a top priority for the Vikings, especially considering his history of mediocre play under pressure. He's completed about 52 percent of his throws for 20 touchdowns and 20 picks while pressured in his career, according to PFF.