Kirk Cousins’ departure from the Atlanta Falcons is imminent after the 2024 season, according to NFL insiders.
The Falcons are expected to part ways with the veteran signal caller in a deal that likely will be finalized before his $10 million roster bonus is due on March 17, says ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
With the Falcons still in playoff contention, the team has appointed rookie Michael Penix Jr. as the starter, with league executives widely predicting Atlanta will have to release Cousins by the spring.
According to NFL insiders, the split between Cousins and the Falcons is unfolding sooner rather than later.
Front office sources point out that Cousins holds all the leverage due to the no-trade clause in his contract. Few believe he’ll accommodate a team that blindsided him on draft night by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round, only to bench him this week in favor of the rookie.
As a result, there’s growing consensus across the league that the Falcons won’t find a trade partner and will instead release Cousins before his $10 million roster bonus for the 2026 season becomes due. Having already paid him $90 million for just 14 games, the team is unlikely to take on further costs for a quarterback no longer part of their future plans.
Cousins’ Stats Over the Last 4 Games
Kirk Cousins, the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback, played in 11 games from September through November 2024. Here’s a breakdown of his performance during this period:
September 2024:
- Games Played: 4
- Completions/Attempts: 77/119
- Completion Percentage: 64.7%
- Passing Yards: 864
- Touchdowns: 4
- Interceptions: 4
- Passer Rating: 83.5
October 2024:
- Games Played: 4
- Completions/Attempts: 108/152
- Completion Percentage: 71.1%
- Passing Yards: 1,242
- Touchdowns: 10
- Interceptions: 3
- Passer Rating: 109.0
November 2024:
- Games Played: 3
- Completions/Attempts: 60/89
- Completion Percentage: 67.4%
- Passing Yards: 701
- Touchdowns: 3
- Interceptions: 2
- Passer Rating: 93.0
Over these three months, Cousins completed 245 of 360 pass attempts (68.1%) for 2,807 yards, with 17 touchdowns and 9 interceptions, resulting in an average passer rating of approximately 95.2.
In December, his performance declined, leading to his benching in favor of Penix.