Former Vikings QB cousins ​​could land in AFC after 1 year in Atlanta

Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​appears to have achieved free agent status after agreeing to a lucrative new deal with the Atlanta Falcons, but looks can be deceiving.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell on Wednesday (May 8) named Cousins ​​among the league’s biggest losers following the NFL Draft. His reasoning was simple: Atlanta made the surprise pick of Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall, turning their entire quarterback situation around.

“Atlanta’s new quarterback apparently didn’t know the Falcons were considering Penix until the selection was made,” Barnwell wrote. “The organization didn’t even pursue Penix extensively because the Washington quarterback didn’t make a prior visit to Atlanta. This is one of the most amazing top 10 picks in recent memory.

Cousins ​​signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons about six weeks prior, including $100 million fully guaranteed. However, Penix’s presence significantly changes the math under center and could also alter Cousins’ future as well as Atlanta’s preferences.

The result could be that the four-time Pro Bowler spends just one season, or maybe just two, with the Falcons before heading elsewhere. The three teams suggested by Barnwell as the most likely landing spots for Cousins ​​are the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans.

Kirk Cousins ​​​​could leave Atlanta via cut or trade

GettyQuarterback Kirk Cousins, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings.

Barnwell laid out the scenarios, including both a trade after one season — if Cousins ​​accepts one — or a cut after his first or second year in the NFC South division.

(Cousins) has a full no-trade clause, meaning he can force the franchise to pay him that $100 million over two years before moving to Penix for the 2026 season. Naturally, though Cousins ​​may not want to move to another city after landing in Atlanta, the veteran also may not want to sit out 2025 behind Penix if the Falcons are ready to move on and there is an exciting opportunity available elsewhere .

Could the Falcons leave after one year? Yes, although it would be more complicated. If Cousins ​​agrees to a trade, it would be easy. … The Falcons reportedly have $37.5 million in dead money on their cap, but we’ve seen teams (become) more comfortable eating that kind of dead money if they’re willing to move on from a quarterback .

Projecting potential landing spots a year in advance is a tricky game to play, but the most obvious play (the San Francisco 49ers) seems irrelevant. … Otherwise, the other potential landing spots appear to be the Raiders, Steelers and Titans, none of whom have an established quarterback for the future.

Kirk Cousins ​​Could Still Lose a Long Game with the Falcons, Even After Signing for $100 Million Guaranteed

GettyAtlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Cousins ​​is going to secure his money no matter what, but after already making nearly $232 million with another $100 million guaranteed on the way, the career win means something more to the former Vikings QB that.

He has publicly stated on several occasions that he loves Minneapolis and considers it home for him and his family. Cousins’ wife has several ties to Atlanta, which could give that city something similar. However, it now seems at least reasonably likely that the 35-year-old quarterback (36 in August) could move again after a year or two.

Cousins ​​certainly wants to win on the field, too. Although he posted impressive career statistics, including nearly 39,500 passing yards and 270 touchdowns, Cousins ​​only won the playoffs once (1-4 career record).

The Falcons have assembled an impressive group of talented players over the past few years and play in a relatively weak division. A Super Bowl seems like a tough stretch over the next season or two, but a few division titles and a few chances to make some noise in the playoffs both seem like realistic outcomes for the Falcons.

Cousins ​​may have to leave a place that feels like home in Atlanta, assuming it doesn’t actually become his home by then, and vacate a starting job for a contender before the end of his career – or choose the bench instead. Even with an extra $100 million in his pocket, it’s far from a win for a QB who left Minnesota with the certainty that this was the right path to take.