Kirk Cousins thought he was signing up for stability (before hanging up his cleats) when he inked that monster four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons last offseason. But the stability lasted about as long as a rookie quarterback’s first contract. The moment Atlanta snagged Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick in the draft, the writing was on the wall.
From franchise QB to mentor, Cousins, once the crown jewel of free agency, suddenly found himself demoted to clipboard duty. Clearly, he didn’t sign that deal to hold a Microsoft Surface on the sidelines. So, here we are… After an OKAYish season in Atlanta, Kirk wants to be QB1 or wants to look for greener pastures elsewhere. That’s where the whole chatter of the Browns started floating.
Dawg Pound, eh? Yeah, that’s the team perennially caught in quarterback limbo. The moment Cousins hit the bench in December, the speculation began. But back then, it made sense. Cleveland was still reeling from Deshaun Watson’s injury and his ups and downs… That’s when the idea of the Kirk Cousins and HC Kevin Stefanski came up. Because Kevin’s the man who once helped Cousins put up some of his best numbers in Minnesota. So, all is good to go, right?
“I don’t know how far along it is right now, I just know there’s enough smoke around this and enough conversations being had that this would not be a surprising move,” – @DMRussini on the Browns trading for Kirk Cousins.
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/N43CAKUEWg
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) April 1, 2025
Well, not so fast. While insider reports suggest that the Browns are deep in the quarterback market and that there’s ‘too much smoke to ignore,’ it has not convinced everyone that Cousins is the answer. And that includes at least one unnamed NFL executive, who just delivered a brutal reality check.
“What about Kirk Cousins as a post-draft trade acquisition?” the exec posed in conversations with The Athletic. “Stefanski knows him, but I cannot see them going with another guy who is older and injured.” The concern isn’t just Cousins’ Achilles tear from 2023. It’s his age, his declining numbers, and his hefty contract. While Cousins would be an upgrade over Kenny Pickett (who is currently the only semi-legitimate QB on Cleveland’s roster), would he be enough to justify the investment?
The Browns already committed big money to Myles Garrett, making the idea of a long-term rebuild—or, as some might call it, tanking—less likely. Another exec chimed in with a different take, hinting that Cleveland might just be better off riding the storm and taking a shot at a true franchise quarterback next year.
“If I’m Cleveland, and I don’t love Shedeur (Sanders) at pick No. 2, I have a two-time Coach of the Year, a GM that got a second contract, so could that regime possibly survive a worst-team-in-the-league season to get Arch Manning next year?” That’s some serious long-game thinking. But as another exec pointed out, there are no guarantees. “You are not guaranteed Arch Manning is going to come out, or that he will agree to go to Cleveland. So my guess is they draft a quarterback this year.”
So where does that leave Cousins? Stuck in trade limbo. Plus, with his $40 million cap hit in 2025, any move would require serious financial gymnastics. As for now, he’s Morris’ guy. Or is he? Because with all the recent updates, it seems like the Falcons are ready to fly without him.
Raheem Morris will not hold the grudge against Kirk Cousins
Remember last year’s Jets drama? Aaron Rodgers skipping OTAs, Robert Saleh fuming, and the whole thing unraveling like a bad soap opera? Yeah, that’s not happening in Atlanta. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris knows the situation with Kirk Cousins is all business, and he’s not about to make it personal.
“I’m not going to be foolish to think that he’s going to show up for voluntary work right now,” Morris admitted. “We’re dealing with a business-type mode right now.”
The Falcons, for their part, aren’t forcing him to stay. If the right trade opportunity pops up, they’ll explore it. “This is not a thing where we’re holding [Cousins] back if the opportunity presents itself,” Morris said. “If it’s something that’s good for both of us—we certainly would like to see that happen.” Translation: If a team wants him and the price is right, the Falcons won’t stand in his way.
Now, where does that leave Cousins? The Browns, of course, need a QB after the Deshaun Watson mess. But a 37-year-old QB can not be it. If he is, then the Dawg Pound will revolt. Because Watson’s $230 million for no-show is already hurting them. So, what’s the end to all this?
That’s the real question. Cousins got blindsided by Atlanta drafting Penix last year. Would he risk jumping ship now, only to see Cleveland draft someone at No. 2? “I do know he would like to try to be a starter at some point,” Morris said. But how that happens is still up in the air.
For now, Atlanta isn’t forcing the issue. They’re comfortable letting this play out, even if it means Cousins skipping OTAs. But once mandatory workouts hit? That’s when things could get spicy.
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