The Atlanta Falcons are looking for an answer at the quarterback position, and it appears they are moving on from Kirk Cousins and giving second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. the starting spot going into the season. Cousins was not present for the first day of OTAs with the team, which caused many questions regarding his future in Atlanta.
While the Falcons could simply keep him as the league’s most expensive backup quarterback, the team might look to move him via trade to save some of the cap hit. However, one NFL analyst attempted to find a landing spot and realized there were only a few out there.
Chris Simms Can’t Find a Team for Kirk Cousins
On the May 28 edition of Pro Football Talk, NFL analyst Chris Simms discussed how there are not many options available for Cousins right now.
“At the end of the day, I understand why he wants to go but just where is he going to go? By all due accounts, we know that [Aaron] Rodgers is going to Pittsburgh. You look at the landscape out there, you go ‘Where else?’ Cleveland’s not going to go for Kirk Cousins, are they? Are they going to have the most dysfunctional quarterback room in the history of football? I don’t know where he ends up.”
If Rodgers were to not sign with the Steelers, this could be a landing spot for the veteran quarterback. If the Browns were to want to add another quarterback into the mix and create a difficult quarterback battle, that is another opportunity. Otherwise, things could be tough, as most teams have their quarterback rooms set heading into OTAs.
Cousins recovered from a torn Achilles tendon and signed a massive four-year, $180 million contract during last year’s free agency. If the team were to cut him, it would involve a $75 million dead cap hit for Atlanta.
He played in 14 games last season and completed 303 of 453 (66.9%) of his passes for 3,508 yards, with 18 touchdowns and a league-leading 16 interceptions before being benched.
Cousins is 36 years old and has shown that he still has the ability to play at a high level.
Whether it’s competing with a young quarterback for a spot throughout training camp or trying to win his job back with Atlanta, the road to getting back on the field could be difficult for the veteran quarterback. The four-time Pro Bowler may be left without a chair when the music stops this season.
