Contrary to what most expected coming out of the 2024 season, Falcons GM Terry Fontenot has held the line on keeping Kirk Cousins as a backup. This would mean taking on another $10MM (via a roster bonus due soon) on a player due a fully guaranteed $27.5MM base salary.
Michael Penix Jr. has established himself as the clear-cut starter in Atlanta going into the offseason, after the team had prepared for Cousins to start two years before a baton pass. Considering how quickly teams throw first-round picks into the fire, that long-term plan never appeared realistic. And Cousins’ poor play down the stretch prompted Raheem Morris to pull the plug early. Rumors about a Cousins release emerged soon after, but he remains a Falcon days before free agency.
Cousins appears to be pushing the Falcons to cut him. The 36-year-old QB sought a meeting with Arthur Blank and received it, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, who reports the benched passer is seeking a 2025 destination in which he could end up a starter. Blank did not give Cousins any assurances, as Breer adds the owner will attempt to “do what’s best for the team at QB.”
Holding a no-trade clause, Cousins does not appear a realistic trade candidate. The roster bonus and $27.5MM base salary would probably be a non-starter, considering how Cousins deteriorated down the stretch. Yet, some teams did leave the Combine believing the Falcons would actually hang onto the high-priced passer, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds. Fontenot has said on multiple occasions this offseason he indeed views Cousins as the team’s 2025 backup. Understandably, Cousins is not onboard with that arrangement.
Cousins signed a four-year, $180MM deal to start for the Falcons; $90MM came guaranteed at signing. Another $10MM, which is due soon, was viewed as a practical guarantee since it was assumed the Falcons would not cut Cousins after one season. Some around the league did wonder if Cousins would be traded, with the 49ers (as a Brock Purdy contingency plan) coming up. But Cousins’ benching — after a rough stretch of games that helped sink the Falcons — certainly tanked his trade value. During his final five starts, Cousins sported a 1-9 TD-INT ratio.
More to come.