The Atlanta Falcons made one of the boldest moves of the 2024 NFL offseason by signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in free agency with $100 million fully guaranteed. The following month, the franchise again turned heads by drafting Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The decision caught many around the league off guard, but it may have hit Cousins hardest.
What’s Next for Kirk Cousins?
Since the end of the season, speculation has swirled about whether Cousins will remain in Atlanta or even be on the roster when training camp begins this summer.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot addressed the trade rumors, offering a measured but resolute response during an appearance on Mad Dog Sports Radio with host Adam Schein.
“Yeah, Adam, we just have to be patient there, and we’re always open to talking about not just Kirk but really anybody on our roster,” Fontenot said. “We have a lot of those calls. I’ve probably talked to six or seven GMs since the draft has ended. They’re talking about their roster. We’re talking about our roster because after you get through the draft, that shifts some things in terms of needs and surplus and all that.”
"If something comes to us, with Kirk or any other player that makes sense and it's going to help this team, then we're going to be aggressive and we're going to do it."#Falcons GM Terry Fontenot updates @AdamSchein on the latest with Kirk Cousins.
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— Mad Dog Sports Radio (@MadDogRadio)
Fontenot stopped short of confirming any trade talks involving Cousins but didn’t deny his willingness to listen to overtures around the league.
“We’re always patient with those types of things because if something comes to us with Kirk or any other player that makes sense and it’s going to help this team, then we’re going to be aggressive and we’re going to do it,” Fontenot said. “If it’s not something that will ultimately help this team, then you always have to ask the question, ‘Is this the best for the Atlanta Falcons?’ If it is we’re going to be willing to do it. But all that communication is always ongoing.”
A year later, the fallout from the Penix pick remains a hot topic in NFL circles. It’s rare to see such a significant free-agency quarterback investment only for the franchise to draft a rookie who would be expected to play immediately at the same position.
While Cousins has not publicly demanded a trade, multiple reports suggested the veteran felt blindsided by the team’s decision to draft Penix. Cousins was seemingly brought in as a franchise cornerstone for the Falcons’ rebuild, and the team’s abrupt shift in direction raises questions about the veteran’s future in Atlanta.
PFSN currently has Cousins as the Falcons’ QB2 on the depth chart behind Penix. With Fontenot confirming conversations with other GMs are happening and refusing to commit fully to Cousins, it’s fair to wonder whether the veteran quarterback’s days in Atlanta are numbered.
