Disclaimer: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — I said it at the onset of the 2025 offseason: We're going to continue talking about Kirk Cousins until we're not.
It made me chuckle a few weeks ago when NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on the Pat McAfee Show that his source (or rather, "no source") on Cousins remaining on the Falcons' roster for the foreseeable future was... the Falcons.
"The more this goes, I kind of think he's going to be the Falcons backup," Rapoport said. "Which, like, there's no source in that because the Falcons have told us this from the beginning. It's just that we kind of didn't believe them."
It's true. This is the stance the Falcons have maintained since Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris' post-season press conferences back in January. It's going to continue to be the stance of the organization until a new avenue presents itself; and right now, the quarterback market is settled and quiet following the 2025 NFL Draft. Even the recent news of Derek Carr's retirement didn't rock the QB boat too much. Aaron Rodgers' patience in making a decision on whether or not he'll play in Pittsburgh in 2025 isn't moving things along either.
Rapoport said over the weekend that if Rodgers doesn't end up in a Steelers' uniform, "the first call" Pittsburgh would make would be to the Falcons and Cousins. This could become a trend, too. Any injuries that take place as more quarterbacks return to action may increase the demand for Cousins.
"(It's) why we're going to be talking about Kirk Cousins all the time this coming preseason, this coming actual season," Rapoport said on NFL Insiders on May 10. "Every time a quarterback gets hurt, the Falcons are going to be like, 'Hello, look at the guy we got.'"
So, what does this mean for the Falcons in the meantime? Not very much.
There's reason to believe a patient approach could yield higher dividends if a few teams become more desperate for a starting-caliber quarterback. The Falcons are on the hook for a $40 million cap hit for Cousins regardless of what actually happens with the veteran quarterback. As I have stated time and time again, the only viable move I see for the Falcons is to move Cousins via a trade after June 1. That doesn't mean we'll see a move made on June 2. No, the Falcons can — and probably should — be patient.
This conversation could continue through training camp, the preseason and, yes, even the start of the 2025 season. Perhaps a contending team suddenly needs a quarterback in Week 4, one with enough experience to come in and play immediately. Perhaps said team has the means to take on a chunk of Cousins' guaranteed salary or even offer up a future draft pick. Who's to say? But this absolutely could happen.
I will say this, too: If this is anyone other than Cousins, I would be worried about the impact his presence has on Michael Penix Jr. as the starter. But as I have gotten to know Cousins, and seeing how he handled his benching last year, I do think Cousins will continue to be a good teammate to Penix. That, and Cousins also has the opportunity to show teams across the league that he's a team player even in a tough spot, all while honing his craft to reassure quarterback-needy teams that his dip in play last November isn't a true reflection of what they'd be getting.
The two-fold nature of this development is something offensive coordinator Zac Robinson spoke about last week.
The first prong being Cousins, the teammate: "It's very similar to last year when Mike took over, took the reins, and Kirk did a great job supporting him. Definitely feel the same thing with Kirk being around now. Shoot. He knows Mike is the guy. Kirk is here as the backup, and we expect him to support him just like he did last season and all throughout the offseason."
The second prong being Cousins, the player: "We coach the guys that are here, and Kirk is on the team so we are going to coach him like every other player that we have. Certainly understand the things that have been out there, but Kirk has been great in the building each time he has been here. You know Kirk as a person. He is not divisive and those things. I would anticipate that when he is here he will be the best teammate to the guys, to the coaches and he will just try to improve as a player. What can we improve on with some of the things last year knowing that he is still one snap away?"
At this point, it behooves every party to keep Cousins on the roster. The Falcons and, yes, even Cousins himself.
Which is why I say, again: We're going to continue talking about Cousins until we're not.
