The Atlanta Falcons are still holding out hope that they will be able to trade Kirk Cousins at some point, and they may have one final opportunity to do so next month.
Cousins signed a four-year, $180M deal with the Falcons last offseason. The veteran quarterback was due a $10M roster bonus on Saturday, and Atlanta chose to pay Cousins the money rather than release him. That is because the goal is to trade Cousins and have another team take on at least some of the 36-year-old’s contract, which runs through 2027.
Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports spoke with a current NFL general manager on Wednesday who said the Falcons “just can’t” keep Cousins. When asked how likely it is that Atlanta will find a trade partner, the GM said the final opportunity could come after the NFL Draft.
“Maybe (Falcons GM Terry Fontenot) can get a team that misses out on a QB to bite before or even after the draft,” the GM told Schultz. “That’s his best shot — hoping someone is still without a quarterback when the music stops. But they’re calling everyone right now that will listen.”
Keeping Cousins through Saturday was actually cheaper for the Falcons, even though they had to pay a $10M bonus. If Cousins were released as a pre-June 1 cut, Atlanta would absorb a $65M dead cap hit. That is part of the reason the team is so desperate to trade Cousins rather than just cutting him loose.
Cousins lost his job to Michael Penix Jr. midway through last season. The Falcons could simply keep him and have one of the best backups in the NFL, but Cousins would undoubtedly prefer an opportunity to start elsewhere. Perhaps a team that has been linked to Cousins will become desperate enough for quarterback help after the draft.
Cousins finished with 3,508 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions last season. He is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and has a ton of experience, but his contract is viewed as incredibly prohibitive.
