Much of the discussion related to the Falcons’ offseason revolves around Kirk Cousins‘ future. The team has repeatedly stated a willingness to keep the Pro Bowl quarterback in place as a backup, but head coach Raheem Morris left the door open to a parting of ways on Monday. 
Cousins has made it clear he wants a change of scenery after one year in Atlanta. The 36-year-old old inked a four-year deal to join the Falcons last offseason, but he was benched late in the year in favor of first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. The latter is set to handle starting duties moving forward, but Atlanta’s decision to keep Cousins in the fold past the vesting date of his $10MM 2026 roster bonus helped confirm he will not be released.
That leaves a trade as a possibility, although Cousins will not waive his no-trade clause until after the draft takes place later this month. Doing so will help him avoid a repeat of last year’s situation (where he was caught off guard by the decision to draft Penix), but it could limit the number of suitors in play to acquire him. When speaking about the Cousins situation on Tuesday, Morris noted the team would be on board with dealing him under the right circumstances.
“There’s definitely a human side when you want to see him go out and be the best version of himself,” Morris said (via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams). “This is not a thing where we’re holding you back if the opportunity presents itself. If it’s something that’s good for both of us — it’s good for the Falcons and Kirk Cousins — we certainly would like to see that happen.”
Finances will be a challenge to work out between Atlanta and an acquiring team. Cousins is owed $27.5MM next season, and offset language in his pact means the Falcons could pass on at least some of that figure (along with the $10MM locked in for next season) to his new team. Especially after the draft has taken place, though, most NFL teams will have their 2025 starter in the fold. That will limit the Falcons’ opportunities to swing a deal. If retaining funds winds up being required to pull of a trade, Josh Kendall of The Athletic predicts the team will be willing to do so (subscription required).
The Browns have frequently been named as a team to watch on the Cousins front, given the presence of a familiar face in head coach Kevin Stefanski. A recent report noted a strong push to acquire the former Viking should not be expected at this time, however. As Kendall’s colleague Dianna Russini notes, though, a Cousins-to-Cleveland move would not come as a surprise given the ongoing discourse around the subject (video link). Barring another veteran acquisition under center, the Browns will remain a potential suitor worth monitoring.
To no surprise, Morris added in his remarks that he does not expect Cousins to attend voluntary OTAs. That has been expected on the team’s part, Underdog Fantasy’s James Palmer confirms. A holdout later in the offseason when mandatory minicamp and/or training camp take place would of course be more notable, provided Cousins is still on the Falcons’ roster in the summer. If an appropriate arrangement can be made regarding a trade, though, that may not be the case.