The Kirk Cousins era in Atlanta is on the verge of coming to an end. Following another disappointing Falcons season, trade speculation surrounding Cousins is in full swing.
The 36-year-old quarterback signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in the 2024 offseason. The relationship turned sour before he was done with his first season with the team. After leading the league with 16 interceptions and 13 fumbles in the first 14 games of the season, Cousins was benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr.
As a result, Cousins is now a hot name on the trade market. His massive contract and no-trade clause certainly complicate things but considering how many QB-needy teams there are in the league, Cousins should be able to find himself a new home. In fact, Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus suggests a surprise new team in a potential trade.
The Tennessee Titans, who have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, may reportedly prefer trading down or using their pick on a non-QB while choosing to trade for Cousins instead.
"One team to keep an eye on would be the Tennessee Titans, who hold the first overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. With numerous needs, the idea of selecting a QB at the top of the draft has been met with some contention. The idea that the Titans could possibly trade back to gather more draft capital or select a “generational talent” – presumably not of the quarterback variety – has become the prevailing sentiment around NFL circles."Mason Cameron, PFF
This would certainly be a challenging trade to pull off for the Falcons. While the Titans desperately need a new QB1 after disappointing performances from Will Levis and Mason Rudolph, whether the 36-year-old Cousins is the right choice there is up for debate. Plus, there is the issue with his no-trade clause. Would he really approve a deal that sent him to 3-14 Titans?
It's hard to imagine any team trading for Cousins paying his full salary. The Falcons may have to eat a portion of his contract to make the trade happen. Atlanta would be on the hook for the $37.5 million remaining proration. His fully guaranteed $27.5 million base salary would transfer to the Titans or his new team, but the Falcons may have to absorb some of that to facilitate a deal.
At this point, the Falcons should probably be okay with whatever they can get for Cousins on the market. It is a new era in Atlanta, and Cousins is not going to be a part of that going forward.