In 2023, the Falcons completed 7-10 for the third consecutive season. Common Supervisor Terry Fontenot fired head coach Arthur Smith and parted methods with QB Desmond Ridder. Former Rams and Falcons DC Raheem Morris was employed as head coach for the 2024 season.
Atlanta made a transfer in free company this offseason to get a brand new QB on the roster. Kirk Cousins obtained a four-year, $180 million deal from the Falcons. The veteran QB acquired $90 million assured at signing. After 14 begins in 2024 and going 7-7, the Falcons benched Cousins for rookie QB Michael Penix. On Thursday, GM Terry Fontenot stated the workforce is “snug” transferring ahead with Kirk Cousins as their backup. Nonetheless, he’ll should restructure his contract. No backup QB within the NFL is value something near what Cousins can be making in 2025.
How will the Falcons deal with Kirk Cousins’ contract?
At this level of the offseason, it does the Falcons zero good to confess error and state that they plan to maneuver on from Kirk Cousins, however to be clear: they won’t have a back-up QB make $37.5M in money subsequent season.
— Area Yates (@FieldYates) January 9, 2025
Final offseason, Kirk Cousins’ four-year, $180 million deal was a surprising transfer by Atlanta. The workforce wanted a solution at QB and the workforce went with a veteran in Cousins. Nonetheless, Falcons GM Terry Fontenot made positive to have a backup plan in case Cousins’ time went South. After his 14 begin of the season, Kirk Cousins was benched for Atlanta. In Week 16, rookie Michael Penix Jr. made his first profession begin vs. the Giants. Penix began the ultimate three video games of the 2024 season for the Falcons and he’s going to be their starter in 2025.
That’s the place the Falcons run right into a monetary problem. The workforce has no downside beginning Michael Penix Jr. as an alternative of Kirk Cousins. Penix provides the workforce a greater likelihood to win long-term. Nonetheless, the Falcons want to handle Cousins’ contract this offseason. In 2025, Cousins has a completely assured base wage of $27.5 million. He’s nonetheless on the books for one more $37.5 million in assured cash. Common supervisor Terry Fontenot has a troublesome scenario to deal with. The Falcons owe Cousins some huge cash to be a backup QB. We’ll see if the workforce can attempt to undo the error of signing Kirk Cousins to a long-term deal.
