The ink on Kirk Cousins‘ four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons has barely dried, yet the veteran quarterback is already at the center of NFL rumors. With the Falcons holding the No. 8 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and reportedly interested in selecting a young quarterback, Cousins may not be the long-term answer many assumed he would be. If Atlanta does bring in a top rookie QB, Cousins could find himself in a familiar situation—mentoring a young signal-caller before being forced out. So, where does that leave the four-time Pro Bowler? And could another QB-needy team swoop in for his services sooner than expected?
Yeah, the AFC team in question is the Cleveland Browns—the $5.15 billion franchise that suddenly finds itself in a QB gray area. They just traded for Kenny Pickett, but let’s be real: he’s not exactly a locked-in starter. That opens the door for Cousins. SI’s Albert Breer said, “I do think if the Browns decide to take Carter with the second pick, then Cousins would appeal to them, given the relationship the quarterback has with Kevin Stefanski from Minnesota.” It’s the kind of setup that could work for both sides—Cousins gets a fresh start, and Cleveland gets a proven veteran while figuring out its long-term QB plan.
And after getting blindsided by the Falcons drafting Michael Penix Jr. last year, he’s not about to get finessed again. The move? He’s waiting until after the first night of the draft to waive his no-trade clause, just to make sure whatever team trades for him isn’t about to turn around and grab a rookie QB right after. Smart.
The Browns’ recent trade for Kenny Pickett complicates things. They acquired the 26-year-old from the Eagles in exchange for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2025 fifth-round pick. While Pickett’s potential remains up for debate, the move signaled that Cleveland isn’t entirely sold on its current QB room, which already includes Watson—who may not even see the field in 2025 due to his Achilles injury.
Jun 3, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) is interviewed after Falcons OTA at the Falcons Training facility. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
That uncertainty could open the door for Cousins.
Now, Cousins has become a subject of interest for the Browns, primarily due to his past success under head coach Kevin Stefanski. Back in 2019, when Stefanski was Cousins’ offensive coordinator with the Vikings, the veteran QB posted a career-high passer rating of 107.4, throwing for 3,603 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. If the Browns are looking for a reliable, experienced QB who already knows Stefanski’s system, Cousins is the perfect candidate. He’s a proven leader who can still put up solid numbers. The question is whether Cleveland is willing to take on his hefty contract—or if the Falcons would have to eat some of that money to make a deal work.
A Cousins move would depend on the team’s draft strategy. If they take a quarterback like J.J. McCarthy or Carson Beck, Cousins could serve as a bridge starter while the rookie develops. But if the Browns pass on drafting a QB early, Cousins could become a more realistic trade target—assuming the price is right.
Right now, the Browns’ level of interest is unclear, and the biggest obstacle remains the financials.
Speaking of cash, Falcons owner Arthur Blank is probably sweating bullets at the thought of paying $90 million for a QB who’s not even gonna take a snap in Atlanta again. That’s why a trade feels like a matter of when, not if. But if Cousins holds off too long, he might wake up post-draft with nowhere solid to start. Still, if he plays this right, he could land in a system that actually wants him instead of just being a crazy expensive insurance policy.
Atlanta’s gamble backfires, and Kirk Cousins is stuck in limbo
At this point, the Falcons are ghosting Kirk Cousins—and it’s wild. GM Terry Fontenot is “calling everyone right now that will listen“, trying to pawn off Cousins and his monster contract. But here’s the kicker: Atlanta wants an all-cash deal. Translation? Any team that wants him better be chill with eating a massive chunk of his $27.5 million guaranteed salary for 2025. And spoiler alert—nobody’s down for that.
But Cousins? He’s unbothered. Thanks to his no-trade clause, he gets to decide where he lands. And after last year’s disaster, where Atlanta sold him on a starting gig only to draft his replacement months later, he’s making sure history doesn’t repeat itself. “Rather than taking anyone’s word for it, Cousins has already signaled to teams that he would likely want to wait to see what happens over draft weekend before accepting a trade,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer spilled once. Translation? He’s making sure the next team that wants him actually wants him.
Sep 22, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, the Falcons are taking a massive gamble, hoping some QB-needy team panics post-draft and takes Cousins off their hands. But let’s be real—that’s wishful thinking. “No team is just going to tell Atlanta, ‘Hey, we’ll cover $20 million of that contract.’ Sure, and we’ll throw in a fifth-round pick. Like, nobody’s going to make that leap,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler pointed out. Basically, unless the Falcons stop acting brand new, they might be stuck paying Cousins to do absolutely nothing.
And honestly? That’s ridiculous. Cousins wasn’t trash last season—he threw for over 3,500 yards, had a solid 17:7 TD-to-INT ratio, and led the Falcons to a decent start before things unraveled. Sure, he struggled late in the season, but let’s not pretend he was set up for success. New team. New coach. and a New system. Major injury comeback. And yet, instead of giving him a real shot, the Falcons iced him out. And crowned Penix their new king before the season even ended.
So, should Cousins really be benched next season? Absolutely not. The Falcons naming Penix their starter this early is wild, especially when NFL QB situations flip overnight. But unless Atlanta lowers its trade demands—or some desperate team slides into their DMs after the draft. Cousins might be stuck in one of the strangest situations of his career: an overpaid, big-name QB with literally nowhere to play.
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