10:12pm: Cousins’ desire to play elsewhere in 2025 remains unchanged, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated confirms. As a result, this situation could very well remain in a stalemate for the foreseeable future as the rest of the quarterback market takes shape around the league.
12:51pm: Today was a key date in the Kirk Cousins saga, as a guaranteed bonus on the QB’s contract was set to kick in. The Falcons won’t be avoiding the extra financial commitment, as they’ll hang on to Cousins past the 4pm deadline today, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
[RELATED: Kirk Cousins Pushing For Falcons Release]
Specifically, keeping Cousins on the roster through today will trigger a guarantee on a $10MM roster bonus that is due in 2026. After collecting $62.5MM of his total contract in 2024, Cousins is due another $27.5MM in 2025. Combined with this guaranteed 2026 roster bonus, Atlanta’s total commitment to the quarterback is now at $100MM.
The Falcons have made it clear that they intend to roll with Michael Penix Jr. in 2025. Still, the organization hasn’t shown any urgency to bail on their previous blockbuster addition. Cousins will continue to be the subject of trade rumors, and today’s decision buys the Falcons as much time as they want to find a resolution.
According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the $10MM in guaranteed money for 2026 is subject to offset language. That means the Falcons could simply find a suitor who’s willing to pick up this portion of the bill. In other words, this temporary commitment could ultimately cost Atlanta no money if they find a willing trade partner.
Cousins was reportedly pushing for his release, and the veteran possesses some leverage with his no-trade clause. Still, GM Terry Fontenot has made it clear that he’s willing to proceed with Cousins on the roster, and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero says the front office “has shown no motivation to move him.” This is surely some gamesmanship from the organization, as it’s hard to envision the Falcons rostering such a high-priced backup. Still, the team is clearly operating without any sense of urgency, whereas Cousins would surely like a resolution as soon as possible.
Cousins inked a four-year, $180MM deal with the Falcons last offseason, with $90MM guaranteed at signing. The organization shocked many when they used a first-round pick on Penix, but their bold decision proved to be worthwhile when Cousins showed signs of rust. In his return from a torn Achilles, Cousins guided his new squad to a 7-7 record while tossing 18 touchdowns vs. a league-leading 16 interceptions.
Bruh
Kirk to Cleveland makes too much sense. Not sure why they can’t make it happen?…Falcons are going to eat a lot of money not matter how it shakes out. They need to let this man go lol
If the Browns are going to draft Shedeur Sanders why bring in Cousins? They already have Kenny Pickett as a veteran bridge QB if needed.
You’re both right. Current market is dictating Lenny competing with Ward or sanders in camp for Job. Browns just paid Garrett and still have Watson stealing paychecks taking on cousins current contract would kill them
But I also think browns are best spot for cousins. He can compete with Pickett for job and they can use their pick for a edge rusher
If Cousins could be had for vet minimum, the Browns absolutely could bring him in. But given the amount of money they already have tied up with QB (Watson) there’s no way they can bring in Cousins unless Cousins is released by the Falcons. I see no scenario by which the Browns trade for Cousins and his contract.
Makes sense.
You are right..impossible to add that salary.
I’m sure you mean Kenny. Isn’t Lenny Pickett the bandleader on Saturday Night Live?
Auto correct lmao
I think it’s pretty clear they’re not going to draft him. They wanted Cousins on the cheap like Pittsburgh did with Wilson last year with his offsets, but the Falcons aren’t playing ball.
Do you actually consider Pickett as a bridge/veteran to help the rookie ??
DMX here above mehas a point. Pickett may technically be a vet, but on terms of backups, he falls more into the “couple of plays” category than he does the “couple of games” category at this point.
Browns do
The Falcons have all the leverage. They may not have to eat any money. If he wants to start somewhere, they should give his agent permission to talk to other teams if they haven’t done so yet. Always good to have a veteran backup though.
They owe him either way, so from their standpoint, it makes sense to wait to see who gets desperate for a QB if something goes catastrophically wrong like Teddy Bridgewater’s knee falling off in preseason.
Because we like to throw 10 more million dollars down that hole
Who is taking on all that money?
The IRS
Worst case scaneio only team I can imagine is giants if they fail to get Russ or Aaron
I mean, Giants are going to be bad either way. If they intend to draft a QB, getting someone like Flacco instead actually isn’t the worst thing in the world. In fact, I would prefer that over Rodgers and his drama.
@sentinelATL. I think they wait til the deadline. Is it going to be great deal probably not, I guess it more a insurance policy for penix. Maybe instead of a 7th probably be a fifth with the acquiring team picking up more money.
Very possible. Even mid season what team would take on that even if they need a QB replacement? Idk whole thing is so sketchy lol
@sentinelATL. I agree does it make sense. Probably not since it Probably comes down to one round higher and saving some millions, also your banking that someone’s QB gets hurt. It does look like teams have moved on.
Yeah strange move by falcons. We could have gotten solid backups like drew lock or cooper and saved money but meh I guess
@sentinelATL. I haven’t looked into it recently, but i think it’s front loaded. People were scratching their heads on the penix pick now it makes sense. Because the qb draft class sucks. Think it comes down to if they cut him they still eat the money, so why not keep him as the backup. Kinda like carr’s deal it’s more reasonable if you wait.
That’s a good point
I think everyone forgets how desperate multiple teams are by week 8 for a quarterback that isn’t dead. He’s much more valuable to hold onto for now than cut and allow someone else to scoop up for the vet minimum. They have to pay him either way, so better to have a quality backup option than have to go spend more than the vet minimum to bring in a depth piece. It never made sense, so this shouldn’t be a surprise.
Aaah so you think they waiting for best time to trade a QB needy team cousins?
I don’t think the teams that need a QB right now are desperate enough yet with draft and Rodgers or Wilson still available to talk yourself into. A few weeks into the season, absolutely.
I don’t wish injury on anybody but what you’re saying makes sense. And it’s two birds one stone for Atlanta too they have leverage stock if someone loses their QB1 and also he’s a veteran backup god forbid anything happen to Penix.
Although it does make some sense, the $10 million that they spent today seems like a lot to pick up a 3rd or 4th round pick (at best) once the season starts (assuming Cousins agrees to drop his no trade clause).
Case in point, imagine a year ago when the Raiders missed out on all the QBs. You don’t think they would have traded at least a second rounder in this scenario to not go into a season with that depth chart they did?
If I were the Raiders, I would not have given up a 2nd round pick for Cousins. To give up a 2nd, I’d have to be pretty confident that the player I’m acquiring is going to be at least decent. I like Cousins, but wasn’t confident then and not confident now. Plus, if I were the Falcons, I would not have spent the $10 million hoping to get a 2nd round pick – – not worth it to me. However at the end of the day, it only takes one team to agree with you to get it done.
Trouble is that teams won’t have that much cap. 8 games into the season and he’ll still be owed close to 20 million
That’s a big factor, Deerhunter. Right now, Cousins could have his pick of teams if he were released due to the Falcons paying him out. A trade requires the team to take that money. For Atlanta, that means, possibly, a slight return for a desperate team to work with the contract, but it’s a lot of money to weigh against a Wilson style cut with the former team on hook for the cap number.
I mean, if I’m ATL, I go ahead and cut him loose. That’s ehy I’m not a GM, though, because my reasons are mostly reputation based in this case. Sure, if I’m at the trade deadline in 2025, I could get a good Day Two pick for Cousins. But, as an up and coming team with a new regime, I need a good relationship with my players and prospective free agents (I mean, that’s part of my new coach’s popular appeal, too). The little that I possibly gain from holding a vet on my roster for a possible above average trade-while I’m paying him-isn’t enough to offset the reputation value, for me.
Usually it’s better getting some Thor nothing, but without any insider knowledge, it seems to me that the upside in free agent and locker room respect is worth the money that you’re already committed to as a team. Who knows, you might get lucky and Cousins signs a new deal with his new team-and then you’re off the hook. Probably not, but it definitely isn’t happening with him on the bench this year.
That was supposed to say “something for nothing” in the first sentence of the second paragraph. Thank God we can’t edit on this site.
Even if he were released, I don’t really see many teams that have an opening. Pittsburgh, Cleveland and the Giants are the only 3. Tennessee and Minnesota may need veterans but only for a short time. I mean I don’t expect McCarthy to sit a whole year, if any and if Tennessee doesn’t want Levis, they’ll pick Ward and like most teams do, Ward will eventually start by the 10th game
I think that the Wilson-esque money situation would get him a job, but I agree. There was a short opening here for Cousins that could have closed. You figure Rodgers would take one spot, but that really just leaves two places left for Kirk (who still needs to prove that he’s healthy again).
First, Mariota just got $8 million and Zach Wilson got $6 million. If they cut him, falcons would still need to sign someone else to backup Penix, so the actual cost is more for this season to cut him and you would have a lesser backup to rely on if the guy who had 4 season ending injuries in college can’t survive 17 games. Second, the $10 million everyone is concerned about is for next year, which honestly doesn’t even matter for right now. The 2024 Saints were once projected more than $72 million over the cap and questionably figured something out.
The Falcons blowing $100MM on Cousins almost has me convinced the Bears got a great deal when they gave Mike Glennon $40MM for a single win…lol.
All quiet on the QB front today
.. and Steelers fans starting to like the idea of Mason Rudolph starting
You have an OL that ranked 29th in pass protection so does it really matter who comes through the revolving door at QB?
All rookies. Gonna be one of the best o-lines eventually, probably soon
And ya I think Mason was pretty dang good last time he played for the steelers, so maybe a better option than these older guys
Anybody but the drama queen. No way I want Mr drama in Pittsburgh.
But if he had a different name, would you take about 30 TDs and about 4000 yards from your quarterback? It’d be a good value.
drama queen is 41 years old and isn’t the best teammate. If he had a different name I would take him, but he doesn’t
No one is trading for Cousins. The Falcons are so ineptly run.
Now do Cleveland.
Agreed. But I don’t see the Browns being so inept as to trade for Cousins’ contract.
Yet…
Browns were inept enough to trade a boatload of picks for Watson and to fully guarantee his contract. In fact, they out-inepted the Falcons for that honor. So I wouldn’t put it past them.
I didn’t know Nico Harrison was also the Falcons GM
Why? This is so Falcons-like.
Captain Kirk’s agent deserves all the praise in the world for churning contract after contract for this guy. In his prime he was no slouch but never next level. The Falcons just took the bait from an adroit agent doing his thing
Kirk has to be the smartest guy in the NFL with the contracts he’s gotten along the way. He’s a good QB, but not a great QB. Nice guy and a very good teammate. I’m happy for the man.
Cousins is the starter once he’s healthy.
Guys, Cousins walking is not going to happen. The Falcons have no motivation, they are stuck paying Cousins no matter what. If they wait, 1. they have a backup who can start 2. they can trade Cousins and most of his contract to a desperate playoff-bound team who has just lost its starter.
Cousins will want that trade so he’ll have to meet the conditions for restructuring his contract or look like the greedy weasel he is. Cousins is a career loser, so I’m not sure why a team would want him but after losing a top-ten starting QB in a good season, to a GM wearing beer goggles Cousins looks much better.
Bingo, Atlanta gets some trade value and unloads most of the contract.
It’s what Falcons have been saying for while now. You are correct. Not sure why everyone is debating trade options.
Been saying this would happen since last season ended. Makes no sense to not keep him until the trade deadline.
1) Pretty much any backup they could sign would cost them $6-10 million anyway, so why act like the $10m roster kicker is a big price? It’s just not.
2) Letting him walk for nothing is just so stupid. Only thing it might help would be team chemistry, but if Kirk wants out then he needs to be on his best behavior or it will make other teams stay away.
3) Letting him walk might just let him go to a QB needy team for nothing that the Falcons might be competing against. UnhUnh. Not going to happen.
4) As others have mentioned, Cutting him really doesn’t help cap situation until next year. In the meantime, maybe someone does get desparate enough to trade for him by the deadline and eats a little of the cap hit so the Falcons can pick up their own pre-deadline need. I am not certain on the numbers of how much they could save as it would depend on what they pay down on the contract (assuming that’s allowed, which I sadly don’t know for certain). Any little bit might help.