Falcons' Kirk Cousins reportedly could have trade demand for interested teams

It was previously reported that the Atlanta Falcons could hold onto quarterback Kirk Cousins through the start of the 2025 NFL Draft on the night of April 24.

That's despite the fact that Cousins lost the Atlanta starting job to 2024 first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. and wants to serve as a QB1 for a different team this coming September. 

For a piece published Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated shared how the full no-trade clause attached to Cousins' contract could give him some say regarding where he lands assuming he is permitted to find a new football home this spring or summer. 

"Cousins has already signaled to teams that he would likely want to wait to see what happens over draft weekend before accepting a trade," Breer explained. "In a way, that should also work for the teams, allowing them to go through a full draft process — and make decisions on guys such as Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart independent of Cousins' destination. ...One thing I have heard Cousins' camp would be amenable to is working out the particulars of a trade ahead of the draft on the contingency that a team trading for him not take [a QB] in the first round. Of course, that would require working the money and compensation out ahead of time, and a lot can happen between now and the end of April."

It's now no secret that Cousins' relationship with the Falcons wasn't what it could have been because they didn't tell him when they signed him to a four-year, $180M contract that included $100M guaranteed in March 2024 that they could take a quarterback such as Penix with the eighth overall pick of last year's draft. The Cleveland Browns (pick No. 2) and New York Giants (No. 3) are two teams that have been linked with Cousins but could grab a quarterback such as Sanders or Dart on the opening night of the upcoming player-selection process.

Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski was Cousins' quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator when they were with the Minnesota Vikings. Meanwhile, the Giants seemingly haven't yet closed the door on possibly signing Aaron Rodgers after they agreed to a deal with journeyman Jameis Winston on Friday. Big Blue wouldn't have much of a reason to add Winston, Rodgers and Cousins to the roster this spring. 

"Falcons owner Arthur Blank really doesn’t want to pay $90M, or close to it, for a single year of Cousins. That will affect how much of Cousins' $27.5M for 2025 the Falcons are willing to take on to facilitate a trade and essentially buy a draft pick back from the team acquiring Cousins," Breer added. 

That's all well and good, but Blank may have to make a call he clearly doesn't want to make if Cousins stays away from the club from the start of springtime workouts through mandatory minicamp practices.