The Kirk Cousins saga in Atlanta is nowhere near getting resolved, but on Monday, we got an update that indicates where things are headed. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Falcons are signing quarterback Easton Stick with three days left until the 2025 NFL Draft.
Falcons signed former Chargers QB Easton Stick.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2025
One of the complicating factors for Atlanta in a potential Cousins departure was what the Falcons would do at backup quarterback. While they have Michael Penix Jr. as the surefire starter to begin the season, the Falcons didn't have a viable backup if they moved on from Cousins this offseason.
They attempted to address that need by signing longtime QB2 Easton Stick.
Stick has been the backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers since he was drafted in the fifth round in 2019. In his rookie campaign, he was behind Philip Rivers. Since his sophomore season, Stick has been the backup quarterback to Justin Herbert but hadn't started a game until 2023.
After Herbert suffered a season-ending finger injury in Week 14, Stick took over for the final four weeks of the season.
The Bolts went 0-4 in those starts, with Stick throwing for 1,129 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Despite that performance, he was re-signed for another season on a one-year, $2.66 million deal.
But he didn't get any snaps in 2024 as Herbert didn't miss a single game and performed at an elite level. Former Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke was part of that QB room last year. Atlanta traded him to Los Angeles last summer.
The 29-year-old quarterback has a ton of experience as a backup, even though he has seen limited NFL action. Whether he will get the QB2 job immediately or the Falcons will have a competition at training camp remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: with Stick in Atlanta, Cousins is more likely to be moved in the near future.