Imagine spending a lot of money on a front-row ticket at the Super Bowl, only to discover that a huge pillar is blocking your view. That is essentially the current state of affairs with Kirk Cousins for the Atlanta Falcons. Last offseason, they paid him $180 million for a four-year contract, hoping he would be the team’s leader and face. But, following an injury and the rise of Michael Penix Jr., Cousins may now be the most costly clipboard bearer in NFL history.
And now? His performance alone won’t determine his future in Atlanta. Abdul Carter, a talented tackle defender who racked up 105 solo tackles for Penn State, is the key. Indeed, determining whether Cousins stays or is moved away may depend on a defensive wrecking ball. Welcome to the NFL, where, with the correct defensive upgrade, quarterbacks may be treated like pawns.
And that’s what flares up the talk of Kirk Cousins being traded. “They still have so many questions at quarterback, which brings us to Kirk Cousins,” Dianna Russini of Scoop City stated. “Is that a real thing for Atlanta to trade Kirk to Cleveland? Yes, in my opinion,” added Russini. And trading Cousins might provide the Falcons with budgetary freedom, a different route going forward.
Once Cleveland likely drafts Abdul Carter, Kirk Cousins is all but on his way to the Cleveland Browns
Scoop City w/ @DMRussini: pic.twitter.com/ctAfflP6QP
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) April 1, 2025
Think about it—Atlanta’s defense last year was about as intimidating as a paper tiger. If they can land a player like Carter, they don’t need to pay Cousins $40 million to hold a Microsoft Surface on the sideline. They can just roll with the young, exciting, and significantly cheaper Penix Jr.
And the numbers make the whole situation worse. The sum of Kirk Cousins’ 2025 base pay and 2026 bonus is $37.5 million. The Falcons would have to forgo $25 million to complete this agreement, but at least they would be saving $12.5 million because they had already secured a $10 million roster bonus for him for the next season. Oh, and in exchange for their troubles, they would receive a Day 3 pick.
Because let’s be real. The Falcons have a $40 million decision to make. Keeping Cousins as a backup at that price tag is like buying a Ferrari just to keep it parked in the garage. That’s why the trade rumors are swirling, and Cleveland is the name popping up the most.
Scoop City’s Dianna Russini added fuel to the flames by claiming that there had been real talks regarding the Falcons sending Cousins to the Browns. “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.”
Why? Because Cousins and Browns coach Kevin Stefanski have a long history together that dates back to Minnesota. It’s tempting to invite a fantastic coworker to your next job if you’ve ever worked with them. That’s essentially what’s going on here, with the exception that the coworker has a no-trade provision and costs nine figures.
Regarding that no-trade clause, Cousins is in complete control of this situation. He is under no obligation to travel to Cleveland if he so chooses. However, he may have to swallow his pride and leave for the Land if he still wants to be a starting quarterback, as he has made brutally clear. As Russini pointed out, “It makes a lot of sense why that would work, knowing Kevin Stefanski coached Kirk Cousins when he was in Minnesota.”
And it leads us to the most significant question, which concerns the Falcons’ long-term goals as well as Kirk Cousins. Which is more important: doing what’s best for the team or remaining loyal to a seasoned quarterback?
Arthur Blank’s ‘responsibility’ to the franchise
If there’s one thing Falcons owner Arthur Blank has made clear, it’s this: He has no ill will toward Cousins, but his responsibility is to the franchise, not to one player. And honestly? Fair enough.
Earlier in past offseason, Blank spoke with Cousins for an hour over the phone, and the conversation produced five pages of notes. Although he hadn’t performed as expected, Cousins acknowledged that he still thought he could be a starter in the league, so the conversation probably wasn’t the most comfortable.
However, Blank had to weigh that sentiment against the Falcons’ current circumstances, reminding Cousins that they also had a stake in Michael Penix Jr. and that holding onto a $40 million backup wasn’t exactly a smart financial decision. Blank didn’t have a definitive response when Cousins questioned him about what would happen next, but he did make it clear that they had to act in the franchise’s best interests.
And this isn’t personal for Blank. It’s just business. To free up a much-needed $27.5 million in cap space, the Falcons would be better off selling Cousins after June 1st (or using a post-June 1 designation). However, it becomes messier the longer this goes on.
At the moment, Cousins and the Falcons are merely waiting. It is anticipated that he will not participate in the optional offseason training, which is again voluntary. However, this limbo must eventually come to an end. The Falcons must either locate a trade partner or risk having to shell out a lot of money for a backup quarterback.
Blank himself agreed, “Sometimes life doesn’t always develop the way you think it’s going to develop.” That’s a billionaire’s way of saying, “Yeah, this didn’t go according to plan.”
The post NFL Rumors: Kirk Cousins’ Future Hinges on 105-Tackle Defender as Falcons Owner Confirms ‘Responsibility’ to the Franchise appeared first on EssentiallySports.