Kirk Cousins attended the Atlanta Falcons’ voluntary offseason program on its opening day, signaling a complex situation regarding his future with the team. His presence comes at a critical juncture for him with the Falcons. He’s fought to remake his image and rebuild his game after losing his starting spot to a maddening season last year.
Cousins, who’s guaranteed $27.5 million for next season, is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He has a five-team no-trade clause, so any trade the Cubs might negotiate would need to be approved by him. This clause adds difficulty to his negotiations with the Falcons. They recently signed Easton Stick to be a likely backup to their present starter, Michael Penix Jr.
Even with this turbulent season, the Falcons seem inclined to keep Cousins around as a reserve behind Penix Jr. According to reports, Cousins has been seeking a release from the team. His immediate goal is landing a head coaching gig somewhere else in the NFL for the 2025 season. The new head coach and general manager haven’t publicly committed to Cousins. They seem to be fine with letting him come back, albeit in a much smaller capacity.
Raheem Morris, a member of the Falcons’ coaching staff, expressed cautious optimism regarding Cousins’ attendance at workouts.
“I don’t think he’ll be there. If he is, we’ll welcome him with open arms. But I’m not going to be foolish enough to make myself get worked up and angry about Kirk Cousins missing voluntary workouts.” – Raheem Morris
For now the dynamics between Cousins and the team are far from simple as both sides work to figure out their best options. That previous contract was last offseason’s $100 million guaranteed deal, tacked onto Cousins’ current contract. Additionally, he has a huge roster bonus of $10 million that is due in 2026.
There is still a lot to be written on this interesting dynamic as the Falcons enters the final stretch before the 2023 season. Yet Cousins’ long-term future with the team remains in doubt. His attendance at the offseason program truly indicates that we’re in a major turning point of these prolonged negotiations.
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