Kirk Cousins May Yet Get His Wish
Kirk Cousins wants to be a starter. More than that, he wants to be a starter who pushes his team up Mount Lombardi.
In Atlanta, neither outcome appears particularly likely.
One nevertheless wonders if the passer could yet get his wish. San Francisco has seen QB1 Brock Purdy go down to injury, meaning there’s now a gaping hole at the 49ers’ most important spot. The NFL’s official social media relayed the word: “49ers QB Brock Purdy will miss 2-5 weeks with a form of turf toe.”
Kirk Cousins & The 49ers QB Need
Kirk Cousins needs excellent coaching to thrive. Shanahan can offer as much.
No, the 49ers don’t appear as formidable as they once did, but we’re nevertheless talking about one of the most impressive teams in the NFC over the past several years. Injuries seem to routinely hinder and undermine their seasons, an unfortunate reality that may — may — create room on the runway for Cousins to land.
Over on PurplePTSD, Janik Eckardt discussed the possible fit.
Some background: “Shanahan was the offensive coordinator in Washington when Cousins was drafted and reportedly the driving force behind the Cousins selection in the draft, despite already having acquired Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick.”
Further thoughts: “Now, some obstacles make a trade unlikely. Cousins has ties with Shanahan and has run comparable offenses in Minnesota, but it would still take some time to get comfortable with the new surroundings, which might lead to San Francisco preferring to go with [Mac] Jones.”
Finally, Eckardt’s comments on the hurdle: “Furthermore, he still carries a massive contract, and the Falcons would have to be willing to pay some of it. Cousins also has a no-trade clause and could just veto any move. Still, this is the most realistic trade destination Cousins has had in a while. If the 49ers think they have a better chance to keep the season alive with Cousins in the building, there might be some conversations with the Falcons.”
Kirk Cousins could veto the trade. He has negotiated that right into his contract. Doing so would be odd, though.
The player and coach know each other and like each other. Joining forces to help push the 49ers forward does seem like a good fit, even if only in an on-field sense.
There’s then the major hurdle: that disaster of a contract. The first year of Cousins’ four-year pact has been burned up. Already, San Francisco is managing an easier deal as a result. Atlanta is moving through the season with $7 million in open cap room. Trading Kirk Cousins would appear to be a massive win since they would recoup $27,500,000 in cap savings, usable space in 2025 or room that can get rolled over into 2026. Eckardt is wise to suggest that Atlanta could get asked to absorb some of the cap charge to facilitate a trade (were one to occur), so the money is a fascinating detail to watch.
The 49ers have more than $27.3 million in open room. Whether they want to chew up that open room — alongside whatever restructuring/extending would need to take place — remains to be seen.
If Kirk Cousins did venture to the Bay Area, the precise dynamics of the quarterback spot would need to get sorted out. Cousins, very smart, could start quickly. What happens when Purdy is healthy? Presumably, Cousins would slide back down to the bench. Not ideal for him, but possibly better than the situation he’s currently in.
Kirk Cousins, 37, is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. Nevertheless, one wonders if he’s healthier now since he is far beyond the recovery timeline for his Achilles. Toss in the lesser workload from being a backup and his body could be feeling pretty fresh.
He went 7-7 as the Falcons’ starter, completing 66.9% of his passes for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.
On Sunday Night Football, the Falcons will start Michael Penix Jr. while the Vikings lean on J.J. McCarthy. No shortage of anticipation awaits the matchup.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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