Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham has confirmed that Kirk Cousins will be released on the first day of the league year.
Cousins finished the year with a 70.1 PFSN QB Impact Score, which placed him No. 30 among the 44 qualified NFL quarterbacks. That’s obviously a bottom-tier quarterback, but it’s better than four expected returning starters around the league.
Plenty of teams are expected to make quarterback changes this offseason, and Cousins could be an option for them, especially since the 2026 NFL Draft class is light on top QB prospects. These are five teams that would make sense as landing spots for him in the 2026 NFL offseason.
New York Jets
The New York Jets have a problem: they need a quarterback badly, and they have the No. 2 pick in a 2026 NFL Draft class that lacks a QB worth taking with that selection. The chances they fix that position for the foreseeable future are slim, which could make it a feasible option to pursue a veteran in free agency.
With over $83 million in cap space this offseason, the Jets have more financial flexibility than any QB-needy team in the NFL that doesn’t have the No. 1 pick in the draft. They’d be able to afford Cousins as a stopgap option, potentially take a chance on a quarterback on Day 2, or just wait until 2027 altogether to draft their long-term piece.
Arizona Cardinals
New Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur was previously the offensive coordinator for the Rams under Sean McVay. When McVay was the offensive coordinator in Washington from 2014 to 2016, who was his quarterback? That’s right: Kirk Cousins.
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Cousins also played for several years under Kevin O’Connell, who was also a former Rams offensive coordinator under McVay. The scheme similarity would make sense with the Cardinals, who will likely move on from Kyler Murray this offseason. The only question: Is it redundant for Arizona to roster both Cousins and Jacoby Brissett as stopgaps in 2026?
Pittsburgh Steelers
With odds increasing that Aaron Rodgers will return for another year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, there’s a chance Mike McCarthy might not need to find a replacement for the quarterback he won a Super Bowl with in Green Bay. That said, you can never be too sure when it comes to the unpredictable Rodgers.
Should the Steelers find themselves in the market for a new quarterback, they’ll likely have to go back to the free agent well in a weak QB draft class. Cousins worked under Pittsburgh’s new offensive coordinator, Brian Angelichio, in Minnesota when the latter was the Vikings’ passing game coordinator.
Minnesota Vikings
Wouldn’t it be a funny turn of events if Cousins left the Minnesota Vikings, only for the two sides to reunite just two years later? From a timeline perspective, it certainly makes sense. J.J. McCarthy had a disappointing first year as their starting quarterback, yet they still finished 9-8.
By that logic, the Vikings could be a playoff team with even a minor upgrade at the quarterback position. Cousins isn’t the Pro Bowl-caliber QB he used to be, but an argument could be made that he’s still better than McCarthy. This move wouldn’t be giving up on the latter; it would be giving him more time to develop and push Minnesota into the playoffs.
Atlanta Falcons
Really? No, that’s not a typo. There’s a chance that Kirk Cousins stays with the Atlanta Falcons in 2026. Josh Kendall of The Athletic indicated they could release him, only to bring him back on a cheaper contract if he doesn’t have any takers out on the open market.
The Falcons ran with Michael Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback before he got hurt, bringing their veteran backup back into the fold. In 8 starts, Cousins went 5-3 with 1,721 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.
Though Cousins ranked No. 30 in QBi, Michael Penix Jr. was one slot behind him at No. 31. They went just 3-6 with him as their starting quarterback, and he displayed plenty of inconsistency in his first year as a full-time starter. The Falcons will likely pursue a veteran QB this offseason to push Penix; why not make it the one they already have?
Details on Falcons’ Decision on Cousins’ Future
Cunningham revealed the decision on Cousins’ future at the NFL Combine. “Out of respect for Kirk and Michael, felt like that was the right decision,” the Falcons GM said.
The 37-year-old quarterback signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons in 2024. However, Atlanta restructured his contract last month, which made it easier for the franchise to release him. As a result, Cousins will now hit free agency and is expected to draw interest from multiple teams around the league.
CBS Sports’ NFL insider Jonathan Jones confirmed that the Falcons will now be in search of a veteran quarterback in free agency. Whether they re-sign Cousins remains to be seen, but the franchise will add competition for Penix Jr.
