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Kirk Cousins' Next Team Couldn't Be More Obvious After Big QB News

By Chris Schad

Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) walks onto the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) walks onto the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images / Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
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Kirk Cousins landing spot will be a big storyline for the second straight offseason. One year ago, Cousins left the Minnesota Vikings to sign a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. 14 games later, the Falcons are looking to move on, turning the reins to rookie Michael Penix Jr..

With Cousins going on a tour to tank his trade value, it seems like the Falcons are destined to eat $65 million in dead money and a $25 million cap penalty if he’s released by June 1. But some recent quarterback news may have cleared the way for Cousins to find a new home and it may not be more obvious where the 37-year-old will end up next season.

Kirk Cousins is Destined to Become a Jet After Aaron Rodgers News

The news dropped on Sunday when Fox Sports Jay Glazer reported the New York Jets will move on from Aaron Rodgers next offseason. While Rodgers flew to New York to discuss his future with the team, he was told he will not be part of their future plans and could be a June 1 cut designation, allowing him to sign with any team in the league on March 12.

The decision leaves the Jets without a quarterback in 2025. New York could try and lure Sam Darnold in free agency but it’s unlikely he would go back to a place that put his career on life support after making him the third overall pick in the 2018 draft. 

Other options such as Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are available as free agents and the Jets could dive into the draft but there isn’t an NFL-ready option after Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward.

Matthew Stafford could also be a possibility if the Los Angeles Rams decide to trade him but the most likely scenario could see Cousins wind up in New York.

For starters, the Jets hired Rick Spielman for a position in their front office earlier this week. Spielman’s previous job was as general manager of the Vikings and he is most known for giving Cousins a pair of fully guaranteed contracts worth $150 million during his tenure.

The other is the security blanket that Cousins provides at the quarterback position. Before landing in Atlanta, Cousins threw for 4,000 yards four times and 30 or more touchdowns three times during his six seasons in Minnesota. It’s why Cousins got the massive contract from the Falcons despite coming off a torn achilles at age 36 and why other desperate teams may covet him if he’s released.

The biggest question for the Falcons is if the Jets are desperate enough to facilitate a trade. If the Jets release Rodgers as a post-6/1 move, New York will have $30.4 million in cap space, which is enough to fit Cousins’s $27.5 million cap hit into their plans. But Cousins also has a no-trade clause in his contract and the Jets may choose to wait until he’s released and sign him to a league-minimum contract.

That would also open the door to any quarterback-needy team but the Jets feel like the frontrunner after they made the decision to move on from Rodgers.

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