Kirk Cousins ​​Impact on the Atlanta Falcons: “Night and Day”

The Atlanta Falcons made a significant investment in Kirk Cousins ​​by signing him to a 4-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed.

It was a risk considering Cousins ​​will be 36 when the season begins and is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury. However, the Falcons felt it was a risk worth taking after seeing a mediocre quarterback over the past few seasons.

NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe was at the OTAs in Flowery Branch this week, and he reported that coaches and players already thought bringing Cousins ​​to Atlanta was money well spent.

“I talked with a few Falcons this week, players and coaches, and they were already clear about the impact Kirk Cousins ​​had on this team,” Wolfe said on NFL Network. This is a group that is trying to win its first NFC South title since 2016.”

“One coach told me it’s ‘night and day with Kirk Cousins ​​commanding this offense compared to what he had last year.'” Remember, Desmond Ridder was the quarterback for most of the season.”

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Ridder was named starter by former head coach Arthur Smith during the offseason after four starts as a rookie. Despite throwing 115 passes in the NFL in his career thus far, Ridder hasn’t seen time in preseason games. It’s not a shock to hear that Cousins, despite joining a new team, is already ahead of Ridder when it comes to commanding an NFL offense.

It’s not just coaches who have already seen the difference.

“And I also had a veteran starter tell me, ‘Look, he’s as advertised. There’s no doubt he’s a born leader and his presence alone will make us better,'” Wolfe said.

Cousins ​​was already taking charge of the team before the OTAs.

“An example of Kirk Cousins ​​taking this team and truly making it his own – he took all of his pass catchers to Tampa earlier in the offseason to have a film session with former head coach Jon Gruden,” Wolfe reported. “He really wanted to build that chemistry and get to know them. Drake London said it was a really eye-opening experience. So they’re already starting to bond.”

The third-year pro has only known life under Smith with Marcus Mariota, Taylor Heincke and Ridder at quarterback. Opening your eyes indeed.

Any questions about Cousins ​​getting first-team reps this offseason have already been answered. He recovered enough in May to be able to take reps on the field.

“During OTAs, it’s Kirk Cousins ​​who takes all the first team reps,” Wolfe confirmed. “Michael Penix takes reps No. 2. I talked to a coach who said, ‘Look, Kirk was visibly shocked at first, but the relationship has been good. There’s no drama in the building.’

“So after that initial shock, it looks like everything is professional. From what I understand, Kirk Cousins ​​will be their starter for Week 1, barring any setbacks. He looked good after his injury to Achille. The coach said that every time he steps on the field he looks healthier and healthier.

This is good news for the Falcons considering Week 1 against Smith and the Pittsburgh Steelers is more than three months away. Even with poor quarterback play in 2023, the Atlanta Falcons should have been a playoff team.

The schedule is a bit tougher this season compared to last year’s historically easy slate, but it’s still considered the softest in the NFL. The Falcons are counting on Cousins ​​to go 7-10 and win the NFC South.

And they like what they see so far.

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