The Kirk Cousins situation remains a puzzling one. The Atlanta Falcons had a clear plan for developing last year’s rookie quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., on the sidelines while Cousins handled quarterback responsibilities. Unfortunately, his production, coming off a torn Achilles, wasn’t up to the mark, causing Atlanta to pivot midway through the 2024 season. Since then, it has become clear that Cousins is going to ride the bench for the Falcons.
Entering the 2025 season, he is firmly behind Penix on the depth chart, and unless something catastrophic happens, it is hard to see that position changing over the course of the season. Instead, Atlanta might look to ship him quickly. However, bringing in an almost 37-year-old quarterback coming off one of the worst seasons of his career is going to require a truly desperate team to make a trade. As it turns out, the AFC might have such a candidate.
Could Kirk Cousins Move to the AFC for the First Time in His Career?
A fourth-round pick in 2012, Cousins has steadily built himself into a force in the league through tenures with the Washington Redskins and the Minnesota Vikings. Earning four Pro Bowl selections, he has solidified himself as one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the league.
However, a torn Achilles put an end to his time in Minnesota, with the Falcons giving him a premature four-year contract worth $180 million. After just one season, that isn’t reflecting too kindly on the Falcons, especially as Cousins is no longer the starter for them.
Last year, an inconsistent season reached its boiling point when the Michigan State alum had a four-week stretch where he did not tally a single touchdown, while giving up eight interceptions. Trading for such a quarterback has to be a major risk for any team.
However, Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report, in his list of trade destinations for Cousins, lists the Indianapolis Colts as one such location, purely because of the criticism its general manager, Chris Ballard, and head coach Shane Steichen are facing.
Anthony Richardson’s game-winning drive vs the Patriots. Calm. Confident. Clutch.
And people still question if he gives us the best chance to win? Lol. pic.twitter.com/QcGeYixSSg
— SleeperColts (@SleeperColts) July 12, 2025
The biggest problem for the Colts is that their gamble on Anthony Richardson, after picking him fourth overall in 2023, hasn’t paid off. “As the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Richardson probably had a rather lengthy leash entering this offseason, but it’s shortening with each passing month.”
Two major problems have defined his tenure as a member of the Colts so far, and neither seems to be changing anytime soon. “Injuries and questions about maturity led to the 23-year-old missing multiple games through his first two seasons. A lack of development as a passer didn’t help matters. As soon as he tapped out of a game last season for being tired, the entire perception changed.”
It’s been clear that some form of change is necessary, leading to Indianapolis’ signing of Daniel Jones. However, with Richardson out with a shoulder injury, there is a chance Jones becomes the starter in Week 1 for the Colts.
In that scenario, Sobleski poses a simple question. “Would they rather have Jones or Cousins trying to save their jobs?” Calling it a “make-or-break” season for both Ballard and Steichen, he has done a job of explaining the pressure the decision-makers for the Colts must be feeling.
As a result, even with the contract and the potential draft compensation they’re going to have to part with, Cousins makes far more sense, at least in the short term, than whatever the Daniel Jones – Anthony Richardson experiment was going to yield them.
