The Atlanta Falcons made the decision at the end of the 2024 season they were going to move forward with Michel Penix Jr. as their starting QB.
It feels like a lifetime ago, but just last offseason the Falcons made the decision to give Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract as he was considered the top free agent signal caller on the market.
The Falcons QB admitted he was shocked when the team decided to draft Penix with the No. 8 overall pick after signing him to a significant free agent deal.
“Certainly, if I had the information around free agency, it certainly would’ve affected my decision,” Cousins said on the first episode of Netflix’s Quarterback (h/t ESPN’s Marc Raimondi). “I had no reason to leave Minnesota with how much we loved it there if both teams are going to be drafting a quarterback high. But I’ve also learned in 12 years in this league that you’re not entitled to anything. It’s all about being able to earn your spot and prove yourself.”
Cousins played well early last season for the Falcons, leading Atlanta to wins in six of their first nine games which gave them the No. 1 spot in the NFC South. Cousins had 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions during that stretch and it felt like Penix would continue to learn behind him for at least a few seasons.
But in the most important part of the season with the playoffs on the line, Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons offense regressed. Atlanta lost four-straight games from Nov. 10 to Dec. 8 and Cousins didn’t throw a single touchdown during that stretch, while throwing another eight interceptions during the losing streak. He also took eight sacks during the four-game skid.
Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons squeaked past the Raiders in a 15-9 victory where the Falcons QB only threw for 112 total yards, and while he found the end zone once, he threw another pick and took three sacks.
After that game, with the postseason on the line, the Falcons announced they were turning to Penix as the starter to close out last year and for the 2025 season.
The Atlanta Falcons have spent all offseason trying to move Cousins, but due to the amount of money owed on his contract, it’s been difficult to find a trade partner.
Right now, Cousins is slated to be the Falcons backup quarterback in 2025, but one prediction has him getting traded to the Browns in a move that would likely make Cleveland a contender in the AFC North.
Here’s what Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobieski said about a potential deal between the Browns and Falcons for Cousins:
If the Cleveland Browns are serious about winning this season, a Cousins acquisition remains on the table. Right now, the organization doesn’t have a legitimate plan at the quarterback position.
The Browns have four signal-callers on the roster with the potential to start, which means they don’t have a legitimate starter in the mix.
At this juncture, Joe Flacco is the most likely candidate to earn the nod. Browns fans will look back to the 2023 campaign and hope he can rekindle the magic that led him becoming the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. But he’s now 40 years old and played poorly for the Indianapolis Colts last season.
Even with Flacco’s hot streak two seasons ago, the team still bowed out of the postseason’s first round.
Kenny Pickett is competing with Flacco as another veteran trying to lead the team as QB1. He has yet to show he’s worthy of that distinction after being a first-round bust with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Cleveland can cut both and only cost the team $4.2 million while gaining $1.25 million. The Browns could easily take on a chunk of Cousins’ $27 million base salary if necessary.
From there, Cleveland has a pair of rookies in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, who were chosen in this year’s third and fifth rounds, respectively. Maybe one of them surprises and shows they’re capable of being an NFL starter. Their draft statuses don’t indicate the Browns feel the same way. Instead, one or both can be backup developmental options.
A healthy Cousins returning to Kevin Stefanski’s system, where he experienced his best seasons, can settle a lot for the Browns and actually make them competitive, considering the state roster with veterans such as Myles Garrett, Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, David Njoku, etc.
