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It appears very likely that the Kirk Cousins’ era with the Atlanta Falcons will be a one-and-done affair after he was benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. late in the 2024 season.
“This is a situation that looks an awful lot like what Denver and Russell Wilson went through last offseason before Denver decided ultimately to move on from him, when it said it wouldn’t necessarily do that,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said during Wednesday’s NFL Live (0:58 mark). “They released him, he wound up signing a one-year deal with a low salary in Pittsburgh, and that’s how I think people across the league believe this situation will unfold with the Falcons releasing Cousins right around the start of the new league year.”
Schefter did note that the Falcons have been “adamant that they’re open to keeping him as the backup quarterback,” though that feels unlikely given that teams don’t pay backup quarterbacks over $40 million per year. A trade is also possible, though it would require Cousins’ signing off on any deal since he has a no-trade clause, which is why Schefter believes a release is still the most likely outcome.
The Falcons went all-in on the quarterback position last offseason, signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract before surprisingly drafting Penix with the No. 8 overall pick.
It always seemed like a lot of resources to use on the position, and the decision to sign Cousins to such a massive deal looked like a major blunder after he threw nine interceptions and just one touchdown between a five-game stretch in November and December. The team went 1-4 in those contests and handed the reins over to Penix.
The rookie was solid in his three starts down the stretch, throwing for 737 passing yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions and one rushing score. The Falcons went 1-2 in those games and missed the playoffs, though one of the defeats was an overtime loss against the Washington Commanders.
Moving forward with Penix as the starter makes the most sense for the Falcons, leaving Cousins in something of a holding pattern. But much like the Broncos ate $85 million in dead cap by releasing Wilson last offseason, the Falcons likely will have to eat $65 million in dead cap to cut Cousins.
The Falcons are hardly the only team this offseason with difficult decisions to make regarding an aging and declining quarterback. The New York Jets and Aaron Rodgers find themselves at a similar crossroads. But while New York would be starting over at the position if they cut Rodgers, the Falcons have Penix ready to go.
That makes a divorce between Cousins and the Falcons feel inevitable.
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