Kirk Cousins Clearly Angling for Falcons Split With New Comments

The 2024 offseason was full of questionable decisions for the Atlanta Falcons. First, they signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal. Only a month later, they drafted Michael Penix Jr. with their first-round selection without notifying Cousins of their decision.

In his first year in Atlanta, things didn't go according to the plan for Cousins. The 36-year-old had a down season across the board, averaging career lows in multiple categories. After going 7-7 in 14 starts and throwing 16 interceptions, Cousins was benched in favor of Penix Jr. for the last three games of the season.

The talented rookie showed intriguing flashes in the final stretch of the season, leading the organization and the fanbase to believe that he is the answer at QB both in the long and the short term.

Penix's emergence late in the season understandably brought about speculation about Cousins' future in Atlanta. The veteran quarterback addressed that speculation on Tuesday on GMFB: Overtime, per NFL.com's Jeremy Bergman.

Kirk Cousins Returning for Another Season But Likely Leaving Atlanta

Cousins said he is looking forward to continuing his career next season, but he doesn't know where that will be. He added that he is focused on getting healthy this offseason after shoulder and elbow injuries admittedly affected his play in 2024.

"I definitely feel like I have a lot of good football left in me. Time will tell. It's still kind of uncertain. We'll get to March and know a lot more. But I think the focus for me really is getting healthy. That's really my focus is I gotta get healthy."

- Kirk Cousins

Cousins is under contract through the 2027 season. His deal carries a $40 million cap hit and $27.5 million in guarantees in 2025. If the Falcons receive an enticing trade offer, they would presumably be open to trading him. Instead of having a very expensive QB2, the Falcons could use that salary slot to upgrade in other positions. The possibility of cutting Cousins before the season remains a possibility as well.

Where the four-time Pro Bowler will be playing football next season remains to be seen but it is becoming increasingly less likely that it will be in Atlanta.