Kirk Cousins

ESPN’s Marc Raimondi writes “the chances [Kirk Cousins] returns to the Falcons as a backup seem slim.”

Because of how Cousins’ contract is structured, he’ll get a say in his future. The Falcons are taking either a $65 million cap hit in 2025 or $40 million in 2025 and $20 million in 2026 as part of post-June 1 release if they so choose. They can save cap space by trading Cousins — depending on how much of his guaranteed salary they’d have to eat to move him — but Cousins also has a no-trade clause. It’s hard to imagine a huge market for Cousins given his rough finish to the season, but perhaps a desperate team can be sold on him being another year removed from his Achilles injury and hope he rebounds physically.