This is a big moment for Kirk Cousins. At the same time though, the Atlanta Falcons are already diving into the complexities of his long-term future in Atlanta. Cousins signed a fully guaranteed $100 million contract last offseason. He struggled through a harsh sophomore campaign that included his surprise demotion in favor of Michael Penix Jr. for Week 16. As discussions regarding potential trades heat up, the question remains: where will Cousins play in 2025?
Cousins, who pulled down $27.5 million in salary this year, has a no-trade clause in his contract that makes things tricky. Despite being benched, he surprisingly attended the Falcons’ voluntary offseason workout program last month, indicating his commitment to the team. He engaged in a phone meeting with Falcons owner Arthur Blank, attempting to plead his case for being released.
The Falcons just granted Cousins a $10 million roster bonus on March 15. We look forward to having this bonus start up in 2026. This level of financial commitment is a positive new complication that further deepens the choices facing the organization. They are reportedly engaging in conversations with other teams about trades for Cousins. This sends a message that his long-term future with Atlanta is in doubt.
Later in the season, Cousins threw eight interceptions and zero touchdown passes over an alarming four-game stretch. He only shot 58% for 737 yards with three touchdowns and three picks. These performances resulted in his benching and brought into serious question his effectiveness and viability as a starting quarterback going forward.
None other than Zac Robinson, the Falcons’ quarterbacks coach, identified Cousins as the best back up. He touted the tremendous value Cousins provides.
“Kirk’s obviously a valuable player to this offense, to this team. And he’s here. We’re going to coach him just like we do every other player on the team.” – Zac Robinson
Robinson mentioned that Cousins would be there to support Penix Jr., as he did for the entirety of last season. The coaching staff seemed supremely confident in Cousins as a backup. They recognize his burning ambition to be a starter on an NFL team this upcoming season.
I just don’t want to feel like that around myself or my coaches. So I get that he doesn’t want to play there, he wants to play somewhere else. It’s a tricky spot, Robinson said, thinking out loud about Cousins’ complicated reality.
Time will tell what route the Falcons decide to go. If they do decide to move on from Cousins, they’ll need to find a more reliable veteran backup. Kyle Smith, a key decision-maker within the organization, stated:
“If something makes sense for us, then we will think about it.” – Kyle Smith
Cousins is now two years removed from his torn Achilles injury. We should see him back by 2025 at a performance level more in line with his baseline. This would be a welcome improvement, and it would really open up his appeal to other teams seeking a safer option at quarterback.
T.J. Yates, another member of the Falcons’ coaching staff, pointed out that Cousins has shown flashes of brilliance when given the opportunity.
“I think the three-game sample size was enough for everybody to see his talent, his ability to do anything he wants with the football in his hand,” – T.J. Yates
As tensions build around Kirk Cousins’ future with the Atlanta Falcons, one thing remains clear: both parties must navigate the intricacies of his substantial contract and performance history. It’s hard to underestimate the importance of this outcome, not just for Cousins himself but for how it will torpedo the team’s plan as a whole going forward.
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