The No. 1 Contender for Kirk Cousins’ Services
Slightly over one year ago, the Atlanta Falcons splashed tremendously in free agency by signing former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract, with $100 million guaranteed.
Kirk Cousins will probably be traded before too long, and one team, just barely, makes the most sense.
Without telling him until moments before, the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. in Round 1 six weeks later. Atlanta proceeded to start Cousins in 2024 for a few months, benched him when he unraveled, and Penix Jr., who won’t look back from the QB1 job, took over.
Accordingly, Cousins could be traded this summer or risk becoming an affluent distraction for a team with high hopes of winning the NFC South.
And according to Bleacher Report, the Falcons should conduct trade business with their primary foe, the New Orleans Saints, sending the soon-to-be 37-year-old to Kellen Moore’s team.
The Saints as the Trade Frontrunner for Kirk Cousins
BR’s Alex Kay sized up five transactions that NFL teams should fire up this summer, and among deals like Tyreek Hill to the Baltimore Ravens and Will Levis to the Los Angeles Rams, he recommended Cousins to New Orleans via trade.
Kay explained, “The Atlanta Falcons and Kirk Cousins are at an impasse, one that can only seemingly be solved by cutting or trading the veteran quarterback. While there have been no indications that the Falcons plan to do either at this juncture, both options became far more fiscally responsible this week. There was simply no chance Atlanta could have released the 36-year-old prior to June 1 due to the $75 million dead cap charge and lack of immediate savings.”
“It’s slightly more palatable to take that path now, as that dead cap hit drops to $50 million, but it’s unlikely the franchise will opt for that route. A trade is the most realistic option to set Cousins free. Prior to June 1, it would have cost the club $37.5 million in dead money against a meager $2.5 million in cap savings, but orchestrating a swap now provides a far more appealing $27.5 million in immediate cap room against a cap hit of $12.5 million.”
If New Orleans ignores BR’s recommendation, it has 2nd-Round passer Tyler Shough ready to assume the big job.
Kay added, “Several teams are still in the market for a quarterback after a flurry of signal-callers changed hands on the open market and entered the league in the draft. While the Pittsburgh Steelers have a glaring hole under center, it appears Aaron Rodgers will soon step in to fill the void. That leaves the New Orleans Saints as the most likely suitor, a team that sticks out as particularly desperate following the retirement of Derek Carr.”
“Carr’s departure leaves the Saints with a quarterbacks room led by second-round rookie Tyler Shough and 2024 fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler. Neither represents a realistic path towards contending, something New Orleans could still be capable of with the right QB in new head coach Kellen Moore’s system.”
The NFC South Hurdle
Of course, much like the Vikings and Green Bay Packers, it’s taboo for Atlanta to trade Cousins to New Orleans. The two parties would have to set aside their rivalry for a few hours to finalize the terms of the deal.
Because the Saints are a natural rival of the Falcons, Atlanta general manager Terry Fontenot could also price-gouge a bit, perhaps extracting more from New Orleans than he would an AFC team.
It all boils down to whether the Saints’ brass believe Cousins is a wiser path forward than the aforementioned Shough.
Why Not the Steelers for the Kirk Cousins?
Meanwhile, the Steelers also need a quarterback if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t finally sign in Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin and friends would otherwise be stuck with Mason Rudolph at QB1, a cringeworthy solution. Pittsburgh, too, drafted Will Howard in late April, and he’ll get a look at the QB1 post sometime down the road.
On the whole, Rodgers will likely sign with the Steelers, and Cousins won’t be needed.
How about the Browns?
There’s also Cleveland.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski offensively coordinated Cousins with the Vikings in 2019, a springboard event that helped Stefanski land the top job in Cleveland.
But Cleveland has “too many” cooks in the kitchen at quarterback this summer, employing Shedeur Sanders, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Deshaun Watson.
It probably doesn’t need a sixth passer.
ESPN on the Trade Reality
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi also outlined the Cousins trade sweepstakes this week: “The relationship between the Falcons and Cousins has been fraught with drama, going back to the four-year deal he signed last offseason. He accidentally snitched on the Falcons for tampering in his introductory news conference before expressing displeasure over the Michael Penix Jr. selection after the 2024 draft.”
“Cousins was then benched for Penix in Week 16, having thrown 18 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions. And during Super Bowl week, Cousins admitted he was dealing with an injury late in the season that the Atlanta brass didn’t know about. Penix is the starter, and the organization has said it is comfortable with Cousins as the backup.”
Cousins will turn 37 in August.
Raimondi continued, “The Falcons figure if they’re set to pay Cousins $27.5 million of guaranteed money in 2025, they might as well hold on to him — or at least get something in return. He wants to be a starter, pleading his case to be released in a phone meeting with team owner Arthur Blank. And he does have a no-trade clause.”
“For the Falcons, a team taking on the bulk of Cousins’ guaranteed money is the priority if a trade comes together. He is due a $10 million bonus in 2026.”
Cousins should basically hope that Shough looks unprepared this summer at mandatory minicamp and training camp. It’s his best path to a QB1 job that he covets.
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