Falcons Expect Kirk Cousins To Report For Minicamp; No Trade Imminent

Kirk Cousins was absent from OTAs, choosing to skip voluntary work with the Falcons. As his future remains uncertain, though, attendance is anticipated for mandatory minicamp.

Atlanta’s projected 2025 backup is expected to report for minicamp, Jayna Bardahl and Dianna Russini of The Athletic report (subscription required). The compulsory event begins tomorrow, and Cousins will be subject to fines if he is absent. Of course, attending and/or taking part in minicamp will not quell doubts about whether or not he will remain with the Falcons this season.

It has long been clear Cousins’ preference would be to start over with a new team. He declined to waive his no-trade clause prior to the draft in a bid to avoid a repeat of last April’s situation. That move prevented an interested team from acquiring him and then selecting a rookie as the Falcons did with first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. in 2024. However, with the draft and much of free agency now in the books, the list of viable Cousins destinations has shrunk considerably.

That holds especially true now that Aaron Rodgers has officially signed with the Steelers. Pittsburgh showed interest in Cousins, but the 36-year-old was always considered a contingency plan. Rodgers joining the Steelers leaves few (if any) clear suitors to pursue a Cousins trade. To no surprise, then, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported during a Sunday SportsCenter appearance (h/t Bleacher Report) that a strong market does not exist at this point.

Three years remain on Cousins’ deal, and his $27.5MM in base salary for 2025 is guaranteed in full. A $10MM roster bonus for next season has already vested, creating a sizable financial burden (even with offsets) for an acquiring team to take on. As Fowler has noted on more than one occasion, Atlanta’s ongoing stance of not being willing to retain any money of note in a Cousins swap prevented a deal from taking place earlier.

Especially this deep into the offseason, however, that approach is certainly understandable. With the Falcons already on the hook for Cousins’ compensation, retaining him as insurance for Penix – who suffered four season-ending injuries during his college career – is worth weighing against what would no doubt be a modest return in a trade. Since he took over late in his rookie campaign, it is also difficult to accurately project how Penix will fare during a full season atop the depth chart.

The Athletic report confirms Cousins would still prefer a change of scenery, but with a no-trade clause he has the option of vetoing any deal Atlanta works out. For now, nothing on that front should be expected and as a result it will be interesting to see how he approaches the remainder of the offseason.