Cousins Reports Despite Losing Starting Role
It’s hardly a secret that Kirk Cousins wants to leave the Atlanta Falcons after he lost his starting job to 2024 first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. in December. Thus, some were surprised when Cousins reported for the start of voluntary offseason workouts in April.
Financial and Strategic Reasons for Professionalism
Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution shared why Cousins isn’t causing problems for the Falcons this spring.
“Cousins has incentives to be professional about his situation,” Cunningham explained. “He’s due $27.5M in 2025, whether he’s on the roster or not. But why give the Falcons a reason to try to claw any of it back? Teams also might be less inclined to trade for Cousins if he makes a fuss about being the backup. He may have to compete for the starting job if he lands elsewhere.”
It was previously suggested that Cousins, who has a full no-trade clause attached to his contract to join the Falcons in March 2024, would only accept a move to a different club if that team promised him a starting job. However, no franchise seems willing to pencil the 36-year-old in atop its depth chart following the 2025 NFL Draft.
Limited Starting Opportunities Around the League
It’s widely believed that the Pittsburgh Steelers grabbing developmental project Will Howard out of Ohio State in the sixth round of the draft indicates Pittsburgh will soon sign future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. The Minnesota Vikings have all but guaranteed that 2024 first-round choice J.J. McCarthy will be their Week 1 starter.
At least one team executive expects the New Orleans Saints will go with rookie Tyler Shough if Derek Carr is sidelined with a shoulder injury through the fall. The Cleveland Browns are expected to have four active quarterbacks, including rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, on their roster when they begin training camp practices.
Meanwhile, general manager Terry Fontenot has hinted that he feels the Falcons should keep Cousins as Penix’s backup unless a team trades for the veteran.
Quiet Demeanor Keeps Situation Under Control
“The situation would be more difficult if Cousins raised a ruckus about his unmet request for a trade,” Cunningham noted. “Cousins hasn’t said a disparaging word about the Falcons publicly.”
Cunningham added that “Cousins and the Falcons might be stuck together” for the foreseeable future. This is quite a unique arrangement involving two parties who no longer want to be together but aren’t willing to force a divorce at this point in the offseason.
