Falcons take step toward moving on from Kirk Cousins

The Atlanta Falcons may finally be moving toward a divorce from quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Cousins and the Falcons agreed to a restructured contract that will pay out his guarantee of $67.9 million for the 2027 season on March 13, according to Field Yates of ESPN. That essentially sets a deadline for the Falcons to make a decision on Cousins, and sets him up for a release.

Cousins’ base salary for 2026 has also been reduced in context with that agreement. The Falcons could subsequently designate Cousins as a post-June 1 release, allowing them to spread his dead cap hit over two years.

Cousins’ previous contract was essentially immovable. While he will still receive all the money he was guaranteed, the Falcons have moved the deadlines around so they can essentially get rid of him without taking on an absurd cap hit.

The Falcons signed Cousins to a 4-year, $180 million contract prior to the 2024 season, only to use a top-10 pick on Michael Penix Jr. a month later. Cousins had lost his job by the end of that campaign, but his salary forced the Falcons to keep him as a well-paid backup this year.

Because of an injury to Penix, Cousins wound up starting eight games for Atlanta in 2025. He threw for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, with the team going 5-3 in his starts.

It remains to be seen how much interest Cousins gets even with his salary no longer an issue. There were some who believed the 37-year-old just isn’t a reliable starting option anymore at this stage of his career.