Kirk Cousins absent from first day of Falcons OTAs

Kirk Cousins remains on the Atlanta Falcons roster, but both sides seem motivated to find the QB a new team sooner than later. As the organization figures out a solution, the veteran QB is predictably staying away from OTAs.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris told reporters that he hadn’t seen Cousins in the building as his team opened voluntary team activities Tuesday (per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network). It doesn’t seem like this absence is necessarily leading to any holdout, as he unexpectedly attended the start of the team’s voluntary offseason last month.

Still, Cousins’ absence from Day 1 of OTAs is still glaring. There doesn’t appear to be any resolution in sight regarding Cousins’ future in Atlanta. The Falcons pivoted to first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. before Cousins completed a full season of his four-year, $180M contract, and both sides have been willing to consider a peaceful divorce as the veteran looks to start elsewhere.

While Cousins has been seeking an outright release, the Falcons haven’t budged on their trade-route stance. The team understands that they’d need to eat $37.5M in guaranteed money even if Cousins was cut, and they’ve stated a willingness to keep Cousins on board as a high-priced QB2 in 2025. NFL Network Ian Rapoport said Tuesday that he believes the most likely path in this drama sees Cousins positioned as the backup in Atlanta.

With a release not on the table, focus has pivoted to a trade, and the Falcons have been signaling that they want suitors to take on at least $20M of Cousins’ 2025 salary. Understandably, a deal hasn’t been made, and it’s uncertain if the Falcons will change their stance as the summer goes on. We heard Monday that a trade likely would have already been completed if the Falcons were willing to absorb a larger portion (such as $7M or $8M) of Cousins’ upcoming $27.5M base salary.

If the Falcons do change their stance, it’s uncertain what teams would be lining up for Cousins’ services. The Browns and Vikings were once mentioned as suitors, but both teams added to their QB depth charts during the draft (Cleveland drafted Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders while Minnesota acquired Sam Howell via trade).

We heard Monday that the Steelers remain an option as they await a decision on the Aaron Rodgers front. Of course, a Rodgers decision would quickly change that calculus, leaving maybe only the Saints as a logical suitor. 

New Orleans was once mentioned as a landing spot, and the team’s need only increased following Derek Carr‘s retirement. The Saints claim they’re not aiming to make an outside addition, but perhaps they would change their tune if the Cousins’ financial commitment comes down.