Early-season quarterback injuries around the league have reawakened trade speculation about Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, but the team is “not trying to move him at the moment,” according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
Cousins still has the desire to be a starter in the NFL, but – just like it was in the offseason – his massive contract is an insurmountable obstacle to a trade anytime soon. The Falcons would need a potential trade partner to take on the remainder of his fully guaranteed $27.5MM salary this season, said Russini on her podcast, Scoop City.
After two weeks, that number is down to $24.44MM and will drop by $1.53MM each week for the rest of the year. Currently, only five teams have enough cap space for Cousins’ salary, per OverTheCap, though others can use restructures to free up enough room. Two of those five are the Commanders and the 49ers, who are both dealing with injuries to their starter quarterbacks but already have preferred replacements in place.
That is also the case in Minnesota, where the Vikings have less than $16MM in cap space with Carson Wentz ready to step in for J.J. McCarthy. Cousins is also owed $10MM in guaranteed salary for the 2026 season, meaning that a trade this year would be a multiyear financial commitment.
Regardless of cap space, though, it’s clear that other teams see Cousins’ contract as a poison pill. Some may not be interested it all with the belief that his best days are behind him, according to Scoop City co-host James Palmer.
By the trade deadline, Cousins’ remaining salary will be down to a more manageable $13.75MM, and teams still looking for a quarterback upgrade at that juncture may be more desperate. Still, he would need to be viewed as an upgrade to those squads’ other options, and his 2025 tape is unlikely to inspire much confidence. Cousins won’t see the field enough before the deadline to change that perception, either. As a result, he should remain with the Falcons this year with the two sides likely targeting a parting of ways next offseason.
Might want to turn on force trades for that to happen, Atlanta.
Literal lol at that one
Time to create a new owner for the Falcons and trade for him and their first round pick this season and next season.
Another year removed from his injuries and he is a major upgrade (just on knowledge and prep) over a bunch of these backups that will be starting and a handful of starters in the league.
Relative to what a bunch of QB’s are making, his contract is not unreasonable for the acquiring team.
If Wentz doesn’t play well, Minnesota would be stupid not to bring him back. He knows the offense like the back of his hand and is a much better QB than JJ currently. JJ may be the future (but he has a long way to go and is a major injury risk).
The Falcons signed him to that contract. They can eat it.
Say whatever you want about cousins but he has a great agent that gets the most money for whatever player he’s representing.
The Falcons are fools if they don’t trade him. Why would you want to pay him the full amount to sit on your bench? Even if they have to eat some salary they’re still coming out ahead financially.
Not if Penix gets hurts. Which he does. A lot. At this point they might as well hold on to their expensive insurance policy. There’s a good chance they will need it.
@mc. They will just waiting for more teams to be interested. Falcons want to get the contract off the books. All it’s going to take is a playoff team quarterback being out for the year.
Not if that teamed watched him
Play last year
Who cares about the salary at this point. There’s no FA’s to sign anyways and any signing will be an injury replacement for the minimum. The guys screaming to get the contract off the books are clueless. The way his contract is structured they can trade him after the season and get actual value. Or just cut him if there’s no interest, the cap hit is substantially lower.
@fdjsisk. Did you read the article the falcons want the contract off the books. They also have no leverage and yes it makes more sense to figure it out next year. The only way is if a superbowl contender loses their quarterback and they get desperate
Lol, did you read it? “The team is not trying to move him”. The “Falcons need to trade Cousins” is definitely being pushed by his agent. So yeah, if someone wants to give value and take the contract, they’d move him. Otherwise they’re content to keep him as an expensive insurance policy. They’re paying his salary if they trade him or cut him no matter what and he’s worth the roster spot. So WHY should they give him away for a conditional 7th and pay his salary? Please explain it to me.
@ffjsisk. Did you read my comment. I said there waiting for a major injury and a desperate team.
Your comment clearly says the falcons want the contract off the books. There’s no benefit to getting it off without compensation. Especially after yesterday’s game.
@ffjsisk. I said the article, obviously you cant read. Also said it wont happen until someone offers it.
The Falcons have zero trade leverage after this season. He’s on the books for them to pay him $35 million in 2026. Everyone knows with 100% certainty he will be released. If they release him they will be on the hook for $10 million, which can be offset if he signs a contract elsewhere for more than $10 million.
@mustard. The last domino is heinicke. Maybe someone bites if he’s taken off the board, but unlikely. It would’ve to be a season ending injury to a superbowl contender. Even that is doubtful and the falcons would have to drop the price or take less money coming back.
“Early-season quarterback injuries around the league…” should be all the reason ATL needs to NOT shop Cousins; because, without him, if Penix misses time, Falcons’ season rides with Emory
Besides, who’s gonna eat that salary
Exactly.
If you trade for him, will the Falcons throw in a year’s supply of bubble wrap and do they promise to mark the box he’s shipped in as fragile?
“Hi, I am calling about Kirk…..oh, you want me to take on his whole salary. Hmm….well, I am prepared to give you this Yugo, a couple of bottle caps, and how about a team sticker? In return, I want your first round draft picks for the next 5 years.”
Perhaps the Braves are looking for some bullpen help 🙂
I think the Falcon just need a suitor, that would be the ideal thing and then work out a deal
You should send that info to Terry Fontenot. He probably hasn’t thought about it.
No doubt
The Cincinnati Bengals will soon be announced as the next destination for Kirk Cousins. Since his new team will have to ABSORB the balance of his contract and since Proctor & Gamble, with headquarters in Cincinnati and the makers of Bounty and Charmin boasts of the Absorbency of both brands; it’s a match made in heaven.
HAHA no ones absorbing any of it. He looked dead and now its a year later
Thinking of all the Vikings fans haunted by the idea of Cousins returning to the team, intermittently shouting out “god please no just no.”
Hatching you silly commenters acting like $25 mil for Cousins is insane when Joe Burrows makes more than twice that, Kyler Murray makes twice that, etc.
Well Joe Burrow is twice as good as present day Kirk Cousins is, so that math checks out.
The issue isn’t that it’s a lot of money for a capable starting quarterback — the issue is if Kirk is a capable starting quarterback at this point. A few teams have worse situations right now, but paying Kirk that money on top of trading an asset to get him isn’t worth the marginal (at best) improvement you’d get.
Cousins to the bengals. Burrow is out for months and if browning struggles this could be it
Did none of you notice how well Kirk played before the non-reported shoulder injury last year? I think he could be a very good option for a desperate team. Have you heard who’s starting for Washington this week?
Yeah, he might make a good option for about 2-3 games. I think that’s his shelf life before he suffers a season ending injury.