Last year at this time, the Atlanta Falcons were preparing to do the unthinkable—select quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in the NFL Draft, just weeks after handing Kirk Cousins a massive four-year, $180 million deal. The decision sent shockwaves across the league, and rightfully so, as many questioned what direction the franchise was heading.
Now a year later, that bold move has led to the mess everyone expected. Sort of.
Cousins played well initially, but after floundering down the stretch, Penix was inserted into the lineup and eventually took over. Now, Penix is QB1 in Atlanta, while Cousins finds himself the disgruntled, high-priced backup—at least for now.
If Cousins is to be traded, two major things must happen. First, he must agree to waive his no-trade clause. Second, a team must be willing to take on a significant portion of the $90 million remaining on his deal. That narrows the options considerably, especially with teams like the Browns already signing Kenny Pickett and veteran Joe Flacco, while holding the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft.
CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin sees only two truly viable options left on the table.
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Kirk Cousins returns to the Vikings
A reunion in Minnesota could be in play, and from a narrative standpoint, it’s definitely juicy.
“This is the most intriguing possibility from a storyline standpoint,” Benjamin wrote. “Cousins just got done rocking the purple not long ago, ingratiating himself with Vikings Nation. His return wouldn’t necessarily inhibit J.J. McCarthy, the new face of the franchise, from taking over in 2025 and beyond. He’d offer coach Kevin O’Connell a ready-made insurance plan, without the preexisting pressure of being ‘the guy.’
“And yet the one thing Cousins has reportedly sought in his efforts to escape Atlanta is a path to a starting gig, which isn’t a reality in Minnesota barring a catastrophic summer from McCarthy. If, however, he’s dead-set on a fresh start rather than sitting behind Michael Penix Jr., perhaps he’d rather sit where he and his family carved out an admittedly comfortable home for six years.”
Falcons trade Kirk Cousins to bitter rival Saints
The most controversial option? Shipping Cousins to the NFC South rival New Orleans Saints. It’s not an ideal scenario for the Falcons, but given the circumstances, maybe it’s not as wild as it sounds.
The Saints, currently dealing with Derek Carr’s uncertain status and holding a less-than-ideal draft pick at No. 9, could be one of the more quarterback-needy teams in the league.
“It’s unlikely the Falcons would trade Cousins to a division rival, but then again, is it?” Benjamin questioned. “Atlanta didn’t value Cousins enough to keep him in the lineup for even one full season of his $180 million contract, so if the team can squeeze anything of value out of an NFC South foe for a damaged asset, why not?
“Still, this would make more sense if Cousins is outright released. New coach Kellen Moore needs something under center with Derek Carr going from disgruntled to curiously injured, and Cousins is the kind of proven play-action veteran who could hold down the fort while the Saints get things in order for the future. As a bonus, he’d probably relish games against the Falcons.”
