Kirk Cousins pushing for Falcons release

Contrary to what most expected coming out of the 2024 season, Falcons GM Terry Fontenot has held the line on keeping Kirk Cousins as a backup. This would mean taking on another $10M (via a roster bonus due in less than two weeks) on a player due a fully guaranteed $27.5M base salary.

Michael Penix Jr. has established himself as the clear-cut starter in Atlanta going into the offseason after the team had prepared for Cousins to start two years before a baton pass. Considering how quickly teams throw first-round picks into the fire, that long-term plan never appeared realistic. And Cousins’ poor play down the stretch prompted Raheem Morris to pull the plug early. Rumors about a Cousins release emerged soon after, but he remains a Falcon days before free agency.

Cousins appears to be pushing the Falcons to cut him. The 36-year-old QB sought a meeting with Arthur Blank and received it, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, who reports the benched passer is seeking a 2025 destination where he could become a starter. Blank did not give Cousins any assurances, as Breer adds the owner will attempt to “do what’s best for the team at QB.” The meeting occurred Wednesday night.

Holding a no-trade clause, Cousins does not appear a realistic trade candidate. Considering how Cousins deteriorated down the stretch, the roster bonus and $27.5M base salary would probably be a non-starter. Yet, some teams did leave the Combine believing the Falcons would hang onto the high-priced passer, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds. Cousins suitors are still being told he will not be released, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports. Teams have only contacted the Falcons about a potential release, with Russini adding no trade talks are ongoing.

Fontenot has said on multiple occasions this offseason he indeed views Cousins as the team’s 2025 backup. Understandably, Cousins is not on board with that arrangement.

Cousins signed a four-year, $180M deal to start for the Falcons; $90M came guaranteed at signing. Another $10M, due soon, was viewed as a practical guarantee since it was assumed the Falcons would not cut Cousins after one season. Some around the league did wonder if Cousins would be traded, with the 49ers (as a Brock Purdy contingency plan) coming up. But after a rough stretch of games that helped sink the Falcons, Cousins' benching certainly tanked his trade value. Cousins sported a 1-9 TD-INT ratio during his final five starts.

While Cousins’ value has cratered, many teams need 2025 starting QBs ahead of a draft not replete with options. The Browns and Jets have been connected early; Cousins has played for Kevin Stefanski before and negotiated with the Jets as a free agent in 2018. Cousins is running out of chances after the Falcons partnership went south so quickly, but if released, he might fit in as a Russell Wilson-like option on a minimum salary. Offset language appears in Cousins’ Falcons deal, so his next contract would subtract from the dead money on the Falcons’ cap sheet.

If Cousins does secure a release, he will join a market featuring younger starter options (Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, Daniel Jones) and veterans (Wilson, Aaron Rodgers). However, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders may need bridge players, and this lot of QBs would be jockeying for spots, as no other surefire starting QBs have made themselves known in this draft pool. Cousins can pitch to teams that he will be nearly two years past his October 2023 Achilles tear, as that may do plenty of work since selling his 2024 season would not be a good starting point.