Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, one of the most prominent names in this offseason’s news cycle, remains with Atlanta despite being an obvious trade/release candidate. After Aaron Rodgers signed with the Steelers, the last team that realistically would install Cousins as a QB1 took itself off the list of potential destinations, leaving the soon-to-be 37-year-old on track to be the most expensive backup signal-caller in NFL history.
While Cousins obviously would like to be traded or released so he can finish his career atop someone’s depth chart, he seems resigned to the fact that he may spend at least the 2025 campaign as second-year passer Michael Penix Jr.’s mentor and clipboard holder. Of course, if another club’s starter should get injured at some point before the trade deadline, Cousins could find himself on the move.
But given the way Cousins’ 2024 season ended, it is fair to wonder how even a QB-needy team will view him. In the span of five games from Week 10 to Week 15, he threw just one touchdown against nine interceptions and led the Falcons to a 1-4 record, which torpedoed the club’s playoff chances (Atlanta was 6-3 before that point). After that stretch, he was demoted in favor of Penix.
On the other hand, Cousins did sustain a hit to his right arm and shoulder in a Week 10 loss that appeared to have a real and significant impact on his performance. Prior to that game, he had a TD:INT ratio of 17:7, which makes the injury a clear demarcation point between a solid, starter-level showing and a disastrous few weeks that precipitated his benching.
Assuming he is recovered from the Week 10 injury, a team that suddenly has the need for a viable starting option could certainly convince itself that Cousins, despite his age, can be the player he was in the first half of the 2024 season and throughout much of his time in Minnesota. To that point, Cousins says he expects his health to be a non-issue.
“I think I’ve still got a little bit more to go but very encouraged by the progress I’ve made since January,” Cousins told reporters, including ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, at this month’s mandatory minicamp. “So, even jogging out here today, just very encouraged by what I felt compared to where I was even like six weeks ago out here throwing with the guys. And I believe there’s more progress up ahead, too.”
Cousins also addressed the Achilles tear that prematurely ended his 2023 season, his last as a member of the Vikings. Per Raimondi, Cousins says he was not as healthy as he believed he was going into 2024, which may or may not jibe with comments he made in an appearance on Good Morning Football: Overtime back in February.
During that interview, Cousins said the Achilles healed well and that, although he was also trying to get his right ankle “back,” those issues did not impact his play too much, as evidenced by the 6-3 start and his overall body of work in the first half of last season. But in his comments several weeks ago, Cousins said that while he focused on strengthening his ankle after the Achilles tear, he did not work enough on his mobility, which affected him negatively.
In any case, it sounds as if he will be at full strength if Atlanta or some other team should call on him in 2025. Fortunately, Cousins did not require any offseason surgeries on his arm or shoulder, nor any follow-up procedures on his Achilles or ankle.
One of the obstacles to a trade is the fully-guaranteed $27.5MM salary that Cousins is due this year, as well as the $10MM roster bonus for 2026 that has already vested. Raimondi believes the Falcons would be willing to pull the trigger on a deal if the acquiring team takes on $10MM of Cousins’ 2025 pay (that team would be liable for the 2026 roster bonus as well).
Raimondi confirms recent reports indicating there is no trade market at the moment, though he also believes such a market could quickly form in the event of an injury to another team’s starting QB. Assuming the Falcons and a prospective suitor agree to trade terms, Cousins would surely waive his no-trade clause for the opportunity to start elsewhere.