Kirk Cousins discusses mindset amid trade speculation

If there was any doubt about who should be the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback after Week 3’s humiliating 30-0 loss to the lowly Panthers, Michael Penix Jr. put it to rest with his performance against the Commanders.

The first-year starting quarterback completed 20 of 26 passes for a career-high 313 yards and two touchdowns, guiding the Falcons to 34 points and a much-needed win heading into the bye week. There’s no scenario in which Atlanta can go back to Kirk Cousins. As long as Penix is healthy, he’s the guy. The inevitable highs and lows of a young quarterback are something the Falcons will simply have to ride out.

So far, the trade speculation around Cousins has been mild. Some chatter surfaced after injuries to quarterbacks around the league — most notably Joe Burrow, who will likely miss the rest of the regular season after undergoing surgery for turf toe — but those rumors were quickly shut down by Ian Rapoport.

The Falcons, however, hold all the leverage at this point. Kirk Cousins is a luxury piece: they’ve already absorbed his contract, and with Atlanta flashing playoff potential, he doubles as both a trade chip and an invaluable insurance policy behind Penix. Any contender in search of a quarterback is dealing from a place of desperation, while the Falcons are operating from a position of strength.

The Falcons are only going to move Cousins if their demands are met, which Rapoport called a “premium pick” along with salary relief. 

Perhaps a team gets desperate enough to go that far prior to the November 4th trade deadline, but for now, Cousins is focusing on his role with the Falcons and helping the team win games the best he can from the sidelines.

“Right now, it’s just about the role I’m in, and focused in on helping us win football games and being ready for the next challenges we face. I’ll stay sharp, and you never know what the league will bring,” Cousins said, via Greg Auman of Fox Sports. 

“For right now, I think you focus on the task at hand, being one play away and being ready, also being a great support to the guys that are starting.”

There was a lot of concern surrounding the Falcons decision to keep Kirk Cousins on the roster this season with Penix taking over as the starter, mostly because of the dynamic in the locker room. However, despite the narrative that ran rampant in the offseason that suggested Cousins is some type of evil mastermind destined to ruin the Falcons franchise, the reality is he’s the ultimate professional. He’s done everything in his power to help Michael Penix Jr. succeed on Sundays, and that’s going to continue as long as the two wear the same uniform in Atlanta.