After signing a hefty four-year $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons last offseason, Kirk Cousins has found himself in some muddy waters. Despite spending big on Cousins to help fill their quarterback void, they decided to take things a step further and draft Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
To say this move was a surprise is an understatement as it seemed rather unnecessary to both pay Cousins and draft Penix with a pick that high. It also sent an offputting message to Cousins, which is still weighing on him now as he looks toward his NFL future.
NFL Analyst Says Cousins Could Be ‘Risking’ His NFL Future With Crucial Decision
Cousins was benched in Week 16 after a horrid stretch of games which was a solid representation of how his overall time in Atlanta has gone. The Falcons, now moving on with Penix as the quarterback of their future, have to deal with getting Cousins where he wants to go.
On top of a $180 million payout, Cousins has a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he can deny being traded. Furthermore, it means that he can essentially pick which team he wants to be traded to, assuming they’re interested in acquiring him.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated provided an update on Cousins’ situation and noted that his no-trade clause could become a big factor simply based on the Falcons drafting Penix. As previously mentioned, it appears that this move still weighs on him.
Cousins will likely wait until after the NFL Draft to allow himself to be traded as he doesn’t want to be blindsided by a similar pick that could have him wind up in the same situation.
QB UPDATE:
Kirk Cousins will wait until AFTER the NFL Draft to decide whether or not to waive his no-trade clause, obv he’s wondering about the:
– Titans
– Browns
– Giants
– Steelers
– Vikings
– 49ersIt’s a chess game for sure pic.twitter.com/V3owwQzlS5
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella)
“My understanding it would be chiefly to avoid the situation he found himself in last April when he was blindsided by Atlanta’s decision to take Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick. And that could be where the draft position of the aforementioned teams comes into play.,” said Breer.
MORE: Could Kirk Cousins Return to the Vikings? NFL Insider Adam Schefter Floats Wild Trade Rumor
Breer also noted that Cousins has already told teams to wait until after the draft to give both parties a better sense of whether it would be the right fit or not. That said, Breer made the point that it could be quite dangerous for Cousins to do this as it could leave him without a job.
“There’s risk involved here, too, from Cousins’s side in that he’d probably be able to get at least a one-year commitment as a starter somewhere, ahead of a team deciding to draft a quarterback—and such opportunity could dry up after the draft.,” added Breer.
Overall, it seems like Cousins is in a pretty tricky situation as Breer is absolutely right that it’s a risk. Cousins is also 36 and doesn’t have much time left in the NFL, meaning a one-year starting deal may not be such a bad idea. If he takes the risk and it doesn’t pan out, this could be a decision he regrets for a very long time.
