Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
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Kirk Cousins time in the NFL considered done, according to NFL insider.
When Kirk Cousins signed with the Atlanta Falcons last season, it was expected to be the 13 year veteran quarterback’s last great run — hopefully one with a storybook ending. Instead, less than a year into his tenure, Cousins was benched for 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. and has quickly faded into the background.
According to NFL insider James Palmer, that’s how the rest of the league views Cousins as well. Appearing on the Scoop City podcast, Palmer reported that some believe the 37-year-old’s playing days are essentially finished.
“There were some people around the league that I talked to that think Kirk Cousins is essentially done,” Palmer said. “I don’t know if that’s a universal thought or not.”
It may not be universal, but the perception is hard to ignore. Even during NFL broadcasts, Cousins has become an afterthought. In Atlanta’s Week 2 matchup against his former team, the Minnesota Vikings, Cousins was hardly mentioned. TV cameras only briefly showed him in uniform on the sideline, perhaps quietly hoping for another chance.
Falcons Decided to Stick With Kirk Cousins, Despite Michael Penix Jr.
Cousins made it clear to Falcons owner Arthur Blank this offseason that he wanted to be traded. Blank, however, had no interest in parting ways. After all, Atlanta had committed four years and $180 million to Cousins just one offseason earlier.
“Kirk understands his situation. He understands our own situation,” Blank said. “He understands we’ve committed a lot of funds to him. The aspirations from his standpoint and from our standpoint was that he was going to play for a couple years, if not longer. Things didn’t develop that way.”
The Falcons stuck with their stance throughout the offseason, insisting Cousins would remain on the roster as Penix’s backup. Yet speculation lingered that if a desperate team was willing to take on his contract — or at least most of it — a deal could happen.
Falcons Don’t Have Any Plans to Trade Cousins
The 2025 NFL season has already been riddled with quarterback injuries. Joe Burrow (Bengals), Brock Purdy (49ers), and J.J. McCarthy (Vikings) are just a few of the notable starters sidelined. Naturally, it sparked questions about whether Atlanta might receive calls about Cousins’ availability.
But according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Falcons aren’t answering.
“So I reached out to some people, and I don’t get the sense that Atlanta’s moving Cousins right now,” Russini reported on September 15.
The Bengals, in particular, stand out as a potential fit. With Burrow expected to miss up to three months, Cincinnati could make a case to pursue Cousins. Jake Browning, Burrow’s backup, has been serviceable and even led the Bengals to a comeback win over the Jaguars in Week 2. Still, Russini believes it would take extreme circumstances for a trade to happen.
“It’s going to take a really desperate situation for a playoff contender, I think, to make that move,” she said.
For now, Cousins remains on the Falcons’ sideline — an accomplished but sidelined quarterback whose future is increasingly uncertain. For what it’s worth, the trade deadline isn’t until November 4.