Kirk Cousins' big decision 'surprised' the Falcons

This act surprised some in the building, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. This comes during an interesting stretch, as Cousins is not open to waiving his no-trade clause until after the draft. The quarterback who brought a tampering penalty for the Falcons last year still wields some power, via the clause, and he is aiming to avoid repeating a situation like the one that defined his 2024 in Atlanta.

Surprise Falcons first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. reshaped Cousins’ Falcons path weeks after he signed, and the QB will have more information about the position’s landscape after the likes of Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough and Jalen Milroe are dispersed to teams. Though Cousins also runs the risk of seeing the starter route close after the draft, Aaron Rodgers‘ decision (as it relates to the Steelers) also stands to impact Cousins’ options.

A recent report suggested the Falcons were not interested in a Day 3 pick for Cousins. The team’s party line has remained a Penix-Cousins depth chart remains firmly in play, even as many around the league have doubted that. The Falcons added some QB insurance Monday night by signing Easton Stick. The ex-Chargers backup, though, profiles as a more likely third-string option for Atlanta. If the team does have a Cousins trade in the offing, a new backup would likely be needed, especially considering Penix’s injury history.

Injuries marring four Penix seasons at Indiana will assuredly factor into the Falcons’ thinking with Cousins. The Falcons have set an unrealistic salary demand regarding a Cousins swap, with multiple reports pointing to the team asking an acquiring club to take on at least $20M of his 2025 money. Cousins’ 2026 $10M guarantee is also subject to offset language, which would stick the acquiring team with that tab as well. Anything in the vicinity of $20M in 2025 is likely a nonstarter for teams, and it may have contributed to the Browns choosing to reunite with Joe Flacco.

For now, Cousins remains on Atlanta’s roster. It would be odd if Cousins showed for Falcons OTAs, as QBs on the way out — or suspected to be on the way out, as the 2022 Jimmy Garoppolo situation reminded — are rarely part of such workouts. But he was in the building for the start of the team’s program. How the QB dominoes fall this weekend will set the stage for Falcons trade talks to intensify.