Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has been at the center of NFL rumors this offseason regarding his future. Many around the league originally expected him to be released, but Atlanta held onto him past a key deadline to raise even more questions regarding his 2025 outlook with the team. Now, there’s a little more clarity on the situation.
Most people inside the NFL expected Atlanta would release Cousins before March 17, getting him off the team before his $10 million roster bonus became guaranteed. Instead, the Falcons kept him and signaled a willingness to roster him heading into the 2025 NFL season.
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- Kirk Cousins stats (ESPN): 3,508 passing yards, 18-16 TD-INT, 66.9% completion rate, 7.7 ypa, 88.6 QB rating, 28 sacks taken in 14 games
Signed to a four-year $180 million contract last offseason, Cousins is poised to be the backup quarterback in Atlanta next season behind Michael Penix Jr. It’s why the 36-year-old wants out, angling for a trade to a team that will make him the starter. However, there are a few issues standing in the way of a deal.
On Wednesday’s episode of the Inside Coverage podcast, senior NFL writer Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports shed light on where things stand between the Falcons and Cousins, along with why there hasn’t been a trade.
“Kirk Cousins still wants to be traded, but wants to wait until after the draft for that to happen so that he knows he’s not walking into another Penix situation. There are differing opinions when you talk to people about what’s going on with Cousins. There’s certainly a feeling inside the Falcons organization that Arthur Blank is the one who’s going to have to make this decision. Right now, it seems like Arthur Blank is the one who is holding on, saying we’re not just going to give this guy away, it’s not happening…I’d be looking at Blank right now as the one who is holding the key to unlocking any kind of trade.”
Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports on Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins
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- Kirk Cousins contract (Spotrac): $40 million cap hit in 2025
Cousins carries a $40 million cap hit in 2025 and is set to enter the year as one of the highest paid NFL players, albeit in a backup role. For Arthur Blank, the Falcons’ owner, the team already has to pay Cousins so it might as well keep him on the roster, barring another club stepping up with a quality trade offer.
Atlanta gave Cousins a no-trade clause, which provides him with ample control of the situation. While the Cleveland Browns are heavily favored to acquire the Pro Bowl quarterback, there have also been plenty of NFL rumors about the team using one of its top picks on a rookie quarterback. Until Cousins gets clarity on that situation, he doesn’t want to be traded.
Ultimately, a trade could come to fruition during the 2025 NFL Draft. If the Browns don’t use the second overall pick on Shedeur Sanders then it would open up a starting spot for Cousins. That’s what he is looking for and the Browns’ desperation for immediate quarterback help could make them a viable trade partner for Atlanta.
