Former Vikings QB Plays Hard Ball
Kirk Cousins is evidently taking a stand.
Kirk Cousins has taken a stand in Atlanta, with no solution looming in sight.
The man who quarterbacked the Minnesota Vikings for six seasons now works for the Atlanta Falcons, albeit in a backup capacity. A rookie passer from the 2024 NFL Draft, Michael Penix Jr., swiped his job last season and will keep the same gig in 2025.
Accordingly, Cousins, who still wants to be a QB1 somewhere in the NFL — and is paid to do so — skipped the start of organized team activities (OTAs) on Wednesday.
Kirk Cousins Absent at Falcons’ OTAs
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi wrote Wednesday, “Kirk Cousins was not in attendance Tuesday for the Atlanta Falcons’ first practice of voluntary organized team activities. Falcons coach Raheem Morris said that he did not see Cousins around the facility Tuesday. The quarterback has been around a bit this spring. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said last week that Cousins has been with the team a handful of days.”
“Cousins has made it clear to the Falcons that he would like to be a starter in the league this season. But that is unlikely to come to fruition in Atlanta, with the team completely behind second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr.”
The Falcons have attempted to imply all offseason that Cousins as the QB2 would not be a distraction. No Cousins at OTAs proves otherwise.
Raimondi added, “Earlier this year, Cousins asked for and was granted a meeting with owner Arthur Blank to plead his case to be released. However, the Falcons have not budged on their message from the end of last season.”
“They are comfortable with Cousins as Penix’s backup, because they’d be paying Cousins his guaranteed $27.5 million in 2025 even if he were released. Atlanta could trade Cousins, though a team would need to take on some of his guaranteed money, which includes a $10 million roster bonus in 2026. Cousins also has a no-trade clause, so he’d have to approve any deal.”
The Implication for Cousins, ATL
While Atlanta will likely continue to downplay the Cousins absence saga, the situation really needs resolution. Cousins, indeed, is probably the best backup quarterback in the business entering 2025, but his vanishing act at OTAs is evidence of disgruntlement.
If he were happy-go-lucky, going with the flow as a QB2, he would’ve attended the voluntary workout.
Wednesday is arguably the most tangible piece of evidence in the last few months that Cousins will be traded or released.
An Awful Relationship in the First Place
Not for nothing, Atlanta was the architect of this situation. Full stop.
General manager Terry Fontenot handed Cousins a four-year contract worth $180 million 14 months ago, only to draft Penix Jr. six weeks later without telling Cousins the plan until moments before the pick.
The Falcons have insisted for over a year that they acted wisely, having the best of both worlds at quarterback. In reality, however, they wasted millions on Cousins, especially if picking Penix Jr. was the strategy from the onset of the 2024 offseason.
The organization should’ve simply signed an affordable free-agent passer in March 2024 — like Sam Darnold, who later went to the Vikings — and selected Penix Jr. if he was the quarterback of the future holy grail.
The Falcons did not, and now they’re dealing with Cousins-less OTAs.
Landing Spots for Cousins?
The problem for Cousins? Well, if he’s granted his release or traded — he has a no-trade clause — only the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and New Orleans Saints represent open QB1 jobs.
The Steelers will likely [finally] sign Aaron Rodgers soon, the Browns have about five decent or realistic QB1 options, and the Saints are a division rival of the Falcons (making a trade less likely).
If Cousins wants to start somewhere this season, he may watch for QB1 injuries as they emerge.
More Intel from ESPN
Raimondi added, “This portion of the spring program is voluntary, so Cousins won’t be subject to any discipline for being absent. That would not be the case for mandatory minicamp, which the Falcons have scheduled for June 10 and 11.”
“Tight end Kyle Pitts, wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III, right tackle Kaleb McGary and defensive lineman Morgan Fox were also not seen Tuesday during practice.”
The Vikings play the Falcons this September in Week 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The next step for Cousins and Atlanta is a waiting game — a “will he or won’t he?” show up to mandatory minicamp in two weeks.
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