Adam Schefter Drops Bombshell About Potential Kirk Cousins-Falcons Split

It felt like the writing was on the wall for quarterback Kirk Cousins when the Atlanta Falcons shocked the world in taking QB Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall in the 2024 NFL draft back in April.

It made little sense for a team that had just signed a four-time Pro Bowler like Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract to then turn around and draft his replacement a few months later.

Penix Jr.’s drafting started the clock on Cousins’ tenure in Atlanta, which was seemingly dealt its death blow this week when the team officially benched Cousins following a lowly 112-yard performance in a 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders last week in favor of starting Penix Jr. against the New York Giants on Sunday.

And as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, Cousins’ time with the Falcons is expected to come to an end after just one season.

“Kirk Cousins' divorce from the Falcons is expected to be finalized before his $10 million roster bonus is due March 17, with executives across the NFL fully expecting Atlanta to release him by then,” Schefter said.

“…Front-office executives observing the situation have pointed out that, due to the no-trade clause in Cousins' contract, he now has all the leverage. And nobody believes he will do any favors for a Falcons team that surprised him on draft night by selecting another quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., in the first round then benched him this week in favor of the rookie.”