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Potential Asking Price In Kirk Cousins Trade Has Been Revealed

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Mar 19, 2025 10:18 AM ET

Rumors and speculation are beginning to intensify around Kirk Cousins.

The Atlanta Falcons have reportedly told teams they're not interested in trading the 36-year-old quarterback, who got benched for Michael Penix Jr. late in the 2024 season. On Saturday, Cousins unlocked a $10 million bonus for the 2026 season.

Cousins would be an awfully expensive backup, so teams may expect the Falcons to change course and shop the four-time Pro Bowler. According to Josina Anderson, they've "getting calls" about Cousins.

Anderson called a third-round pick a "potentially actionable" cost to acquire Cousins.

The Falcons may like that price given their situation. They signed Cousins to a four-year $180 million contract last offseason, only to draft Penix with the No. 8 pick.

Returning from a torn Achilles, Cousins posted his lowest quarterback rating (88.6) in a decade with 18 passing touchdowns and a career-high 16 interceptions. He relinquished nine picks and three fumbles in five games before Atlanta turned to Penix for the season's final three games.

While the Falcons may claim they're comfortable paying a $27.5 million base salary to their second-string quarterback, a solid return could compel them to flip the 13-year pro.

Yet a third-rounder may be a tad optimistic. Discussing Cousins on his podcast, ESPN's Adam Schefter wondered if the Falcons could retrieve something like a sixth-round selection. He speculated that a Minnesota Vikings reunion could make sense.

Schefter also explained why a Cousins trade probably isn't imminent. Cousins has a full no-trade clause, and the insider couldn't envision him clearing a deal before next month's NFL Draft after watching the Falcons take his successor last year.

"He's not going to make the same mistake again and sign off on going to a team and see that team then go draft Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders," Schefter said.

Anderson also said Will Levis has surfaced in "preliminary" trade conversations, but it's less clear what the Tennessee Titans could receive for the 25-year-old after two lackluster NFL seasons.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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