Raheem Morris, the Falcons’ head coach, isn’t just managing a roster—he’s playing financial Jenga with Kirk Cousins’ $40M cap hit in 2025. The Falcons, stuck in a seven-year playoff drought (8–9 in 2024), rolled the dice on Cousins last March with a $180M deal, only to bench him by week 16 for rookie Michael Penix Jr. Now, they’re stuck between a rock (Cousins’ $75M dead cap) and a hard place (his $27.5M base salary). So what’s worse: cutting bait or sinking ship?
“I’m not going to be foolish to think that he’s going to show up for voluntary work.” Morris said of Cousins on Tuesday morning. Let that simmer. The NFL offseason isn’t just about playbooks—it’s a high-stakes drama where franchises juggle egos, cap hits, and the occasional quarterback rebellion. And right now, the Atlanta Falcons are starring in their own episode of Quarterback: The Unraveling.
NFL RUMORS #Falcons asking price is high for Kirk Cousins in regards to the money, they are wanting his next team to take majority of his 2025 salary.
Cousins also will not attend voluntary camp. pic.twitter.com/sRw97jQkmt
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) April 4, 2025
Cousins, once hailed as Atlanta’s savior after that 509-yard, 4-TD masterpiece against Tampa Bay, now feels like a LOTR hero whose mind was poisoned into oblivion over time. Last season’s 18 TDs to 16 INTs ratio? More The Room than The Godfather. The Falcons are shopping him harder than a Black Friday TV, but here’s the kicker: they want his next team to swallow most of that salary. Good luck finding a trade partner when Cousins’ contract is stickier than a Georgia summer.
But let’s not forget the man’s résumé. This is the same QB who orchestrated the biggest comeback in NFL history (33–0 down to the Indianapolis Colts in 2022) and turned “You like that?!” into a meme-worthy war cry. Atlanta’s “Dirty Birds” culture, built on grit and tailgate ribs, once thrived on underdog energy. Now? Cousins’ saga feels like a Succession power play—all money, no loyalty.
OTAs? More like “Oh, That’s Absent” – Cousins’ ghosting era begins
While Penix reps the Falcons’ future, Cousins is channeling The Office’s Michael Scott: “I. DECLARE. TRADE!” But with a full no-trade clause and zero OTA plans, he’s less starting QB and more $27.5M bench ornament. Morris isn’t sweating it—publicly. “If it’s good for both of us… we’d like to see that happen,” he said, sounding like a breakup counselor mediating a messy divorce.
The Falcons’ locker room, once buzzing with Cousins’ “Rise Up” mantra, now hums with awkward silence. Arthur Blank’s “We already paid him” shrug is peak Shark Tank energy—invest in potential, cut losses fast. But let’s keep it 100: Atlanta’s D-line (23rd in points allowed last year) isn’t doing Cousins any favors. Imagine trying to cook a gourmet meal (ahem, 2024’s 3,508 pass yards and 13th in points scored) with a microwave.
Yet, there’s poetry here. The Falcons, a team born from a teacher’s vision of “courage and fight,” now face their own comeback story. Trading Cousins isn’t just about cap space—it’s about reclaiming an identity. Will they rise up or spiral like Stranger Things’ Demogorgon in a mall?
Atlanta’s at a crossroads – Bet on Penix or Pray for Miracles. The Falcons aren’t rebuilding—they’re rewiring. Dumping Cousins? Risky. Sticking with Penix? Bold. But in a league where legends are made between contract clauses and clipboard holds, Atlanta’s playing the long game. As Morris said, “You gotta be poised”—even when your QB’s MIA.
So grab your peach tea, Falcons fans. The 2025 season will either see a new hero rise or be a blooper reel. And Cousins? He’s not sweating it either way.
The post NFL Rumors: Raheem Morris to Dump $27.5M Weapon as Falcons HC Clears Stance on Kirk Cousins’ OTA Availability appeared first on EssentiallySports.