Atlanta Falcons’ Kirk Cousins ​​Looks Like a Better Deal Every Day

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Four months ago, the Atlanta Falcons signed quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​to a pricey, four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed. The deal is getting better by the day.

Two NFL signal-caller deals were signed to four-year contracts on Friday, with the Miami Dolphins extending Tua Tagovailoa and the Green Bay Packers locking up Jordan Love.

Tagovailoa agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $212.4 million, including $167 million guaranteed, according to ESPN. His $53.1 million annual salary ranks fourth among NFL passers, while his guarantees rank eighth.

Hours later, Love signed a four-year contract worth $220 million, including $155 million guaranteed and a record signing bonus of $75 million, according to ESPN. With an average annual salary of $55 million, Love is tied with Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Cincinnati Bengals passer Joe Burrow as the NFL’s highest-paid player.

The Falcons agreed to terms with Cousins ​​on March 11, the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period, and officially signed him on March 13.

Cousins ​​is now tied with Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes for the 11th-highest average annual salary at $45 million per year, according to Spotrac. Better yet, Cousins ​​only accounts for 17.6% of Atlanta’s salary cap, which ranks 16th among all signal-callers.

There is, of course, a reason for the pay gap. Cousins ​​will be 36 in August and will find himself in nine months with a torn right Achilles tendon. A return to his former form — and how long he can maintain it — is not guaranteed.

Love and Tagovailoa, meanwhile, are 25 and 26, respectively. They are leaders of the next generation of quarterbacks. Tagovailoa led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards last season. Love ranked second in the league with 32 passing touchdowns.

But it’s important to remember that Cousins ​​was playing at a high level — perhaps the highest of his career — before his Achilles injury. In eight games, he completed 69.5 percent of his passes for 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions.

To put that into context, Atlanta’s quarterbacks – Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke and, for all 10 snaps, Logan Woodside – combined to complete 61.7 percent of their passes for 3,775 yards, 17 touchdowns and 17 interceptions a season ago.

New Falcons head coach Raheem Morris called Cousins ​​a multiplier earlier this offseason, believing he not only directly improves the quarterback’s play but also elevates those around him.

Throughout the summer, Cousins ​​has done just that. He brought receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney and tight end Kyle Pitts to Tampa for a visit with former NFL coach Jon Gruden. He’s watched film with All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III, giving the defense a fresh look. He’s mentoring first-round quarterback Michael Penix Jr., with whom he’s rooming in training camp.

And despite all that, Atlanta pays Cousins ​​just outside the top 10 in quarterback salaries. If he leads the Falcons where they expect him to go — to the top of the NFC South and to the playoffs for the first time in six years — the contract will be all the better.

Even though it seems to happen every day and with every new quarterback contract at a time.