The Atlanta Falcons have turned the page to the 2025 season and are focused on starting the Michael Penix Jr. era. The young quarterback has given every indication that he is the future of the franchise. With an elite arm and appearing to have all the intangibles of a franchise quarterback, veteran Kirk Cousins has been reduced to injury insurance. An incredibly expensive policy, the Falcons wish it were possible to reverse.
However, if the team is going to be paying the veteran quarterback, it might as well get every possible benefit. This is the stance the team has taken, opting to keep the contract unless a team proves willing to take a significant chunk of the deal. This seems increasingly unlikely as long as there isn't a serious injury. Only Aaron Rodgers spurning the Pittsburgh Steelers is a possible path to trading the veteran quarterback. With Cousins stuck in Atlanta, it is time the struggling veteran puts away the excuses and performs.
Kirk Cousins is Completely Out of Excuses After a Full Offseason to Get Healthy
A notable piece of Atlanta's 2025 offseason is when the veteran quarterback decided to blame injuries for his 2024 fall from grace. This was after weeks of denying anything was wrong to the Atlanta media. It was an excuse that didn't sit well with Falcon fans for this reason. If Cousins was playing hurt and denying doing so while costing the franchise a playoff spot, it was an incredibly selfish decision.
The flip side of this is that Cousins was lying about the injury and blaming it in hopes of drumming up more offseason interest. Neither explanation is terribly flattering to the Atlanta veteran. Regardless, the excuses for the quarterback are now gone. After a full offseason to get healthy, the franchise needs to see the quarterback display more power in his throws and the ability to drive the ball to his intended target.
It is only this type of camp and preseason performance that is going to give the team an avenue to trade the veteran quarterback. Penix is this team's future, with Cousins now reduced to the most expensive backup in the league. If there is any path to that burden being lightened significantly, the Falcons are going to take it.
With this in mind, Atlanta fans should have a close eye on Cousins throughout the rest of the offseason heading into camp. With the excuses gone, the quarterback has no reason not to begin to rebuild some value.