Kirk Cousins is attracting little trade interest for a brutal reason

Despite a number of injuries to starting quarterbacks, there has been no real speculation about any team reaching out to try to acquire Kirk Cousins from the Atlanta Falcons. There is reportedly a pretty brutal reason for that.

The Falcons are still unwilling to part with Cousins unless a team is willing to take the remaining three years of his four-year, $180 million contract. That is not a popular proposition among teams, but the issues run deeper than that.

The Athletic’s James Palmer said on the “Scoop City” podcast that there are some around the league who simply feel Cousins is no longer an effective NFL quarterback.

“There were some people around the league that I talked to that think Kirk Cousins is essentially done,” Palmer said. “I don’t know if that’s a universal thought or not, so it has to be the right team that doesn’t think that.”

Cousins was still working his way back from a torn Achilles last year when he started 14 games for the Falcons. He went 7-7, but led the league with 16 interceptions in 14 games and was ultimately benched for Michael Penix Jr.

Cousins has been critical of the Falcons for drafting Penix so soon after signing him, and has asked for a trade. The Falcons are unwilling to give it to him unless a team is willing to take on a hefty portion of his ugly contract. Teams like the Cincinnati Bengals would rather just sit tight and lean on Jake Browning as long as Joe Burrow is out, meaning Cousins remains unlikely to be dealt.