The Atlanta Falcons made Kirk Cousins their starting quarterback when they agreed to a four-year, $180 million contract last offseason, hoping he could help lead them back to the playoffs. Yet, less than two months later, the Falcons selected Michael Penix Jr with the eighth overall pick in the first round.
Late into the season, when it appeared the Falcons wouldn’t make the playoffs, Atlanta turned to their rookie first-round pick for three starts. Now, Penix is the unquestioned starting quarterback in Atlanta, which means Cousins’ future is murky, at best.
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Atlanta Falcons may want a third-round pick to trade Kirk Cousins
While he may prefer being on another team where he has a better chance to play, Kirk Cousins has a full no-trade clause, which means he can reject a trade to an unfavorable situation. Without a better option on the roster, the Falcons would prefer to keep the four-time Pro Bowl QB as a valuable backup for Penix.
However, Cousins knows his NFL clock is running out. He doesn’t have many more chances to be a starter. Potentially sitting out the season could result in him being forced to take a backup job for the rest of his career.
Ultimately, Cousins is one of the best NFL quarterbacks without a starting role heading into the 2025 season. This means any team that strikes out on their top target could pivot back to a potential Cousins trade.
While the Falcons don’t seem willing to listen right now, if circumstances changed, what might Atlanta want in return for trading Cousins?
According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, the “Falcons have been getting calls” on Cousins. She’s “heard talk of a third-round pick being potentially actionable.”
For teams like the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Steelers, trading for Cousins could make a lot of sense if they can’t secure another starting-caliber solution.
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