During his season-ending press conference this week, Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot discussed a variety of the team’s problems. After a very disappointing 2024 season finale, the Atlanta media was shockingly tough. The future of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins was one of the main topics discussed.
Rumour circulated prior to the start of the offseason that Kirk Cousins will be cut by the Falcons in order to avoid an impending roster bonus. Fontenot denied a story that emphasised Atlanta’s unwillingness to cut the seasoned quarterback. According to Atlanta’s general manager, the Falcons are at ease entering the 2025 campaign with Cousins as their backup quarterback. Kirk Cousins will either be traded by the Falcons, or they will enter the 2025 campaign with.                                                        If you’re wondering why the Falcons would choose to trade or keep the quarterback, the answer is straightforward. It is significantly less expensive to keep the quarterback on the team as a backup than to cut Kirk and pay him to play somewhere else. Compared to keeping the quarterback on the roster, Atlanta can save a lot more money by trading Kirk Cousins.
Atlanta already has a restricted amount of cap space, so cutting that would cost an extra $25 million. Kirk Cousins is illogical. Kirk renegotiating his contract, Atlanta trading the veteran, or Fontenot and the Falcons sticking with a historically compensated backup quarterback are the only alternatives left.
If the Falcons are paying the veteran anyhow, it would be great to have a backup with Kirk’s experience and skill to mentor Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons are unlikely to decide to retain the veteran and conclude his playing days, though.
The length of time Kirk Cousins was in the starting lineup demonstrated the respect the front management and coaching staff had for the veteran. Cousins’ prospects of getting a starting position would probably be lost if the Falcons kept him on the bench in his late thirties.
Possibly the most intriguing tale that will emerge from Atlanta’s offseason. When Atlanta decides to keep Kirk on the roster without giving him a chance to start, how will Kirk react?
