Falcons ripped for controversial Kirk Cousins decision

As had been expected for at least a week, the Atlanta Falcons began Monday with quarterback Kirk Cousins still on their roster even though Cousins' 2026 roster bonus became fully guaranteed. Cousins, of course, lost the starting job to Michael Penix Jr. late last season.

On Monday, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano ripped the Falcons for mishandling their quarterback situation.

"Keeping Cousins around doesn't do anyone any good," Graziano said. "It's no good for Penix, because the moment he has two or three tough games in a row, fans are going to be clamoring for Cousins to replace him. It's obviously no good for Cousins, who's another year removed from his Achilles injury and eager to play and show people he still can. And it's hard to see how it's good for a Falcons coaching staff that has to manage and continue to answer questions about a difficult situation."

The Falcons clearly are hoping a quarterback-desperate team such as the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers or Tennessee Titans will trade for Cousins at some point before the deadline for such moves arrives this coming fall. Specifically, Cousins is routinely linked with the Browns because he previously played under Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski when the two were employed by the Minnesota Vikings. 

While the Falcons can afford to have Cousins as their backup with Penix on his inexpensive rookie contract, Atlanta already did wrong by the 36-year-old when the club didn't let him know after it signed him that it could take a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 draft. Graziano noted that the Falcons are "lucky that Cousins isn't the type of guy who's going to hold out or make things difficult on the team in an effort to force his way out," but the situation could change by the time mandatory minicamp practices get underway later this spring. 

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported on Monday that "Cousins doesn’t plan on showing for the offseason program" but "may show for mandatory minicamp to avoid taking the fines." Breer added that "the best thing for everyone would be for Atlanta to get some sort of return on their investment via a trade of Cousins" sooner rather than later. 

"The reality is some of the assets here are human beings," Breer continued, "and it’s fair to question whether having Cousins around is what’s best for Penix as Atlanta goes into its first offseason with the eighth pick in last year’s draft entrenched as the starter."

It now seems that Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson will find new NFL homes in free agency before a team gives up any asset for Cousins. At this point, Cousins may have to hope a club unexpectedly finds itself needing a temporary QB1 between now and the 2025 trade deadline. 

Last year's trade deadline was set for Nov. 5.