"I heard talk of a third-round pick being potentially actionable," NFL Insider Josina Anderson said Tuesday night.
League sources have indicated that the Atlanta Falcons are fielding trade inquiries for quarterback Kirk Cousins. One of those offers is a potential third-round pick. The Falcons decided to keep Cousins past the March 17th deadline, which would force Atlanta to pay out a $10 million 2026 roster bonus.
This stance doesn't necessarily mean that Cousins will stay with the team, but it has enhanced calls from other teams needing an established veteran quarterback on the roster. With Atlanta only having five picks in this year's NFL Draft, they are possibly looking to gain a couple of extra mid-round picks. But at what cost? What would Atlanta realistically be looking for in return?
The financial aspect of Cousins' contract could be a key factor in trade discussions besides draft capital. The 36-year-old quarterback is set to earn a base salary of $97.5 million over the next three years, with an additional $10 million roster bonus due in 2027.
Teams acquiring Cousins would need to take on a hefty chunk of that original contract, meaning a third-rounder or a couple of mid-round picks may be all Atlanta would be able to receive for the failed project with him at quarterback.
A deal doesn't appear to be coming soon, given that Cousins also has a no-trade clause in his contract. That would have to be waived unless Cousins approved a landing spot. In the meantime, the Falcons will be listening to all offers to try to iron out some of the red tape within the contract going forward.
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This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 2:41 PM.