The Kirk Cousins Play Enters a New Act
Kirk Cousins continues to intrigue.
The latest update is simply that he has decided to miss the next component of Atlanta’s offseason program. Hard to blame him. Check out the simple update courtesy of ESPN’s Adam Schefter: “Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is not in attendance today for the team’s voluntary OTAs, HC Raheem Morris told reporters.”
Kirk Cousins: ATL’s Expensive Mistake
Kirk Cousins is among the 32 best quarterbacks on the planet. By definition, he’s capable of being a team’s starter.
The issue is that the opportunity isn’t going to arrive with the Falcons.
Michael Penix Jr. — the southpaw with a rocket for an arm — is moving ahead as the team’s top option under center. The sophomore was shockingly acquired with the No. 8 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft even though Cousins had just relocated to Atlanta for a whopping $180 million across four years. Investing elite resources — top-end money and a super valuable draft pick — into a position with a single starter is a bold move.
Earlier in the offseason, Janik Eckardt wrote about the evolving situation on PurplePTSD.
Eckardt writes about the Falcons’ openness to moving the quarterback in a trade, speculating about where that final destination could be: “The starting job in Pittsburgh is still up for grabs, especially if Aaron Rodgers continues to let them wait and contemplate retirement. Another opening could be in New Orleans if Derek Carr misses the season with his shoulder injury. Trading a quarterback within the division would be strange, though.”
More recently, Dustin Baker took on the new Kirk Cousins twist for Vikings Territory.
Baker sees a growing problem in Georgia: “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.”
For years, Kirk Cousins has built a certain image and reputation. His off-field habits are second-to-none. Hard work and preparation aren’t the issue. Sure, there are questionable decisions in major moments — T.J. Hockenson short of the sticks? — but he never gets hurt, always offers strong production, and has grown increasingly charming as his career has progressed.
Well, some of that started to change in 2023, his final season as a Viking. He tore his Achilles, the first major injury of his NFL career. The Falcons still felt he was the missing piece — much like the Vikings back in 2018 — prompting the decision to hand over such a lucrative deal. The issue is that Cousins’ play declined to an unsustainable level, prompting Atlanta to move forward with their young arm.
Kirk Cousins is coming off a season where he completed 66.9% of his passes for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. He’s carrying a $40 million cap charge but will see that hit grow to $57.5 million for consecutive years in 2026 and 2027 if he (somehow) remains on the Falcons’ roster.
On August 19th, Kirk Cousins will turn 37. One has to assume that he’ll be celebrating his birthday while wearing a different team’s jersey, but the Cousins drama has been playing out in an unpredictable manner.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and Bluesky (@VikingsGazette). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.
