According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Atlanta Falcons have no plans on trading quarterback Kirk Cousins, at least "for now." There are several factors to consider regarding a potential deal involving the signal-caller. He has a no-trade clause. In addition, his hefty contract is something most teams aren't willing (or able) to take on. After Michael Penix Jr. played poorly in the Week 3 blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers, some believed Cousins would reclaim his spot as the team's starting quarterback. However, that's not the case, with Penix in line to remain under center. Of course, anything could change. With that said, as long as Cousins isn't starting, he's not worth rostering in any format. On the other hand, his fantasy stock could climb significantly if he gets shipped elsewhere and gets a chance to start. Cousins briefly saw some action in Week 3, throwing for 29 yards off 5-for-7 passing.
Sep 27, 2025 7:46 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said that the team still has full confidence in quarterback Michael Penix Jr. despite his rough performance in the 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, according to Terrin Waack of AtlantaFalcons.com. The Falcons will not consider veteran backup Kirk Cousins for the starting job. "We're not even close to that with Mike. He had a bad day. We had a bad day. Mike is our quarterback. We got a lot of confidence in Mike. We're moving forward with Mike. Mike's the guy," Morris said. Cousins entered late in the blowout loss on Sunday and went 5-for-7 for 29 yards. The Falcons could quickly change their tune if Penix continues to struggle, but for now, Atlanta will keep Cousins in the backup role going into a Week 4 matchup against the Washington Commanders. It's possible Cousins will be traded, but through three weeks, his trade market has been quiet.
Sep 24, 2025 12:08 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. completed just 18 of his 36 pass attempts for 172 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions during Sunday's Week 3 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons were held scoreless in their ugly divisional loss, prompting the team's coaching staff to replace Penix with veteran Kirk Cousins in the fourth quarter. Cousins completed five of seven passes for 29 yards during his limited action. The quarterback change was likely due to the blowout and not indicative of the Falcons' depth chart moving forward. Still, managers should stay tuned to upcoming depth chart news from Atlanta nonetheless.
Sep 21, 2025 4:06 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is surprisingly not drawing much interest from around the league. The Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Commanders, and San Francisco 49ers are all starting backup quarterbacks, but still no calls for Cousins. Possibly, the Falcons are asking for too much in exchange for Cousins. The 37-year-old does carry a hefty salary, which could be problematic in trade discussions. Regardless, it doesn't sound like anyone has real interest in Cousins right now. That could change if these backup quarterbacks struggle, but for now there's no reason to roster Cousins in fantasy leagues.
Sep 21, 2025 9:35 AM EST
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that "it does not seem" like anyone is trying to call the Atlanta Falcons to try and trade for veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins after the first two weeks of the season. The Cincinnati Bengals just lost Joe Burrow (toe) for at least three months, but they have not called anyone and seem content to roll with Jake Browning under center for the time being. Cousins is a proven starting QB in the NFL and has a fully guaranteed $27.5 million salary for the 2025 season. If another team becomes interested in Cousins this year, they will have to pay some of his hefty salary and will have to give up a real draft pick in return. The Falcons are holding all the chips right now and are going to "drive a hard bargain" for any team that comes asking about Cousins. It's possible the Bengals become interested in Cousins if Browning falls flat over the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned.
Sep 18, 2025 7:27 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins will not play in the team's preseason finale on Friday against the Dallas Cowboys, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Neither of the team's top two signal-callers has played at all in preseason action. Easton Stick has been Atlanta's most-used quarterback through the team's first two preseason games and figures to get most of the reps against Dallas. With fourth-stringer Emory Jones (head) in concussion protocol, Schefter reports that the team has signed quarterback Ben DiNucci.
Aug 18, 2025 11:41 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is not playing in the team's preseason game on Friday night against the Tennessee Titans, but he is finally healthy again and has been impressive during training camp, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. It remains to be seen if Cousins will ever play for the Falcons again, as Michael Penix Jr. is their starter under center moving forward, and Cousins has made it clear that he wants to play in 2025. The Falcons received some calls on the veteran signal-caller in the spring, but nothing worked out. Pelissero says it's possible he could be traded before the Nov. 4 deadline, possibly to a team like the Los Angeles Rams if Matthew Stafford's back issues linger. For now, though, Cousins is the QB2 in Atlanta and will be off the fantasy radar while on the bench. He's making $27.5 million guaranteed in 2025, making him easily the highest-paid backup in the league.
Aug 15, 2025 7:14 PM EST
The Atlanta Falcons will not play quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins in the team's first preseason game on Friday against the Detroit Lions, according to head coach Raheem Morris. Easton Stick and Emory Jones are the quarterbacks on Atlanta's depth chart behind their top two guys, so they will presumably split snaps against Detroit. Penix Jr. is expected to enter the season as the starter for Atlanta after taking over for Cousins in Week 16 of 2024. The veteran Cousins had been the subject of some trade speculation during the offseason, but it appears Atlanta is planning to keep him in place as the backup. In 14 games last year, the 36-year-old completed 66.9% of his passes for 3,508 yards, throwing 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. There's not much that Cousins needs to prove in preseason action at this point in his career.
Aug 4, 2025 9:24 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins said in an episode of the Netflix series "Quarterback" that he felt "a little bit misled" when the Falcons took Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL draft. It came just after Atlanta signed Cousins to a contract worth at least $100 million guaranteed to be their starter in 2024 and beyond. "I had no reason to leave Minnesota with how much we loved it there if both teams are going to be drafting a quarterback high," Cousins said. The 36-year-old led the team to a 6-3 start before injuring his right shoulder. After that, the Falcons lost four straight games, with Cousins throwing eight interceptions and no touchdowns in that stretch. He was eventually benched in Week 16 for Penix, who heads into 2025 as the unquestioned starter, with Cousins backing him up. Cousins could get traded during training camp, but for now he's useless in fantasy as a backup.
Jul 10, 2025 1:51 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who skipped out on voluntary organized team activities, is present for the start of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Cousins would prefer a trade out of town so that he can have a shot to start somewhere else, but if he remains in Atlanta, he'll open the 2025 season as Michael Penix Jr.'s backup. The Falcons continue to say they plan on keeping Cousins. The 36-year-old four-time Pro Bowler didn't look right in his return from a torn Achilles the year prior, throwing for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 14 starts before being benched late in the year for the rookie Penix. Now that the Steelers have officially signed Aaron Rodgers, there aren't any obvious landing spots for Cousins. For now, he's stuck in QB purgatory and is off the fantasy radar.
Jun 10, 2025 1:31 PM EST
The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that the Atlanta Falcons expect quarterback Kirk Cousins to be present for the team's mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. Cousins was absent for the Falcons' voluntary OTAs in late May. Russini also noted that the 36-year-old still prefers "to be traded to a team where he could start." He'll enter 2025 as a backup for the first time since 2014, playing second fiddle to second-year signal-caller Michael Penix Jr. The list of teams that might trade for him is dwindling with the Pittsburgh Steelers' recent acquisition of veteran QB Aaron Rodgers, leaving the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings as the only likely candidates. Still, Cousins' contract poses an issue, forcing Atlanta to absorb a sizable amount. He projects to be a high-end backup as of now and wouldn't be worth selecting in drafts later this summer until that changes.
Jun 9, 2025 2:20 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said he did not see quarterback Kirk Cousins at voluntary organized team activities on Tuesday. It shouldn't come as a surprise to many after the 36-year-old veteran signal-caller had a disastrous first year in Atlanta in 2024. He didn't play well coming off an Achilles tear the year prior and was eventually benched late in the year for rookie first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. Cousins will enter the 2025 campaign as Penix's backup, but he desperately would prefer to be traded to a team that will give him a chance to start again. Among the teams that could be willing to trade for him include the Browns, Steelers and Vikings, but the Falcons are going to need to facilitate a trade by eating a large portion of his $27.5 million guaranteed salary for 2025, which they so far have not been willing to do.
May 27, 2025 1:13 PM EST
Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is "at least" on the Pittsburgh Steelers' "radar" at the moment, even though free-agent QB Aaron Rodgers remains their preferred choice. The Steelers continue to wait for Rodgers to make a decision on whether he wants to play another season in the NFL. Cousins has $37.5 million in guarantees between 2025 and 2026, so the Falcons would need to offset some of that money to facilitate a trade. Fowler said that the feeling around the league is that Atlanta hasn't been willing to budge on that and haven't shown much interest in trying to trade Cousins this offseason. Right now, the Steelers might be the only hope for Cousins getting out of the backup role in Atlanta if something were to fall through between Rodgers and Pittsburgh. If Cousins is traded after June 1, the Falcons would save $27.5 million against the 2025 salary cap.
May 26, 2025 7:04 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins could watch the first round of this year's NFL draft on Thursday night to see what the QB landscape looks like before waiving his no-trade clause on Friday to allow for a possible trade. However, Underdog's James Palmer writes that it seems more and more likely that Cousins could be waiting to see how the second round plays out on Friday night before making any decisions. The 36-year-old veteran signal-caller has made it clear that he wants to be a starter elsewhere over serving as Michael Penix Jr.'s backup in 2025. After Penix took over for the struggling Cousins late last year, the veteran QB prefers to be traded to a team that doesn't have a young up-and-coming signal-caller on the roster already. The Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings have been mentioned as the three most likely candidates to consider trading for Cousins during the draft.
Apr 24, 2025 6:07 PM EST
The Atlanta Falcons are bound to be having many trade conversations during this week's NFL draft that involve quarterback Kirk Cousins, and The Athletic's Dianna Russini points out the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings as the most likely suitors for Cousins, who signed a four-year deal with Atlanta in free agency last year, only to play 14 games before being benched by rookie Michael Penix Jr. The Vikings, where Cousins played for six seasons, is the least likely of the trio to trade for Cousins, who must approve any trade. Russini writes that he's not eager to go to a team with a promising young QB like J.J. McCarthy. If the veteran signal-caller is traded during this week's draft, it would likely happen on Saturday. The Falcons have made it clear that they're moving forward with Penix as their starter, and Cousins has told the team that he would rather play elsewhere as a starter than back up Penix again.
Apr 23, 2025 1:04 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins reported to voluntary OTAs on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. His arrival was a surprise to some Falcons staffers, but his presence in the building shows the relationship between him and the organization is still cordial. The Falcons have said they are willing to pay Cousins $27.5 million to back up second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr., but the veteran would prefer to be traded somewhere he can start. However, starting quarterback roles around the league are now scarce, and options will be further reduced following the 2025 NFL Draft. Cousins was benched for Penix last season after throwing for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in 14 games. It remains to be seen how this situation will play out, but Atlanta could hold onto him in hopes of a fruitful trade offer at some point this offseason or during the 2025 campaign.
Apr 22, 2025 2:51 PM EST
The Atlanta Falcons have said publicly that they aren't interested in trading quarterback Kirk Cousins but that they'd entertain offers if the right deal is on the table. According to sources, they've privately had talks with other teams and have asked for a lot in return. Specifically, the Falcons have asked any acquiring team to pay $20 million of the $37.5 million worth of guarantees left on Cousins' contract. No team has been willing to do that to date, and no teams are expected to be willing to. However, what happens during this week's NFL draft could influence how much guaranteed money a team might be willing to take on from the 36-year-old veteran's contract. The Vikings or Steelers could be willing to pay down to around $10 million for Cousins. He did not look good in his first season coming off a torn Achilles in 2023 and was eventually benched for rookie Michael Penix Jr. in Week 16 last year.
Apr 21, 2025 11:41 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is not expected to participate in the team's voluntary offseason training program, according to head coach Raheem Morris. Cousins is just over a year removed from signing a four-year, $180 million contract ($100 million guaranteed) but was benched after throwing 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 14 games last season for first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. The team has stated they are comfortable keeping Cousins on the roster as a backup, but he could still be cut or traded at some point before the 2025 regular season.
Apr 1, 2025 2:15 PM EST
There are a ton of moving parts with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins' situation this offseason, but SI.com's Albert Breer writes that Cousins could waive is no-trade clause after April's NFL draft. Breer believes Cousins wants to avoid the situation he found himself in with the Falcons last year when he was blind-sided by the Falcons' decision to select Michael Penix Jr. in the first round. Before accepting any potential trade, the 36-year-old veteran has signaled to interested teams that he wants to wait until after the draft to pick his new team. Breer has heard that Cousins' camp would be amenable to working out the particulars of a trade before the draft on the contingency that a team willing to trade for him wouldn't take a QB in the first round. The Falcons are willing to make Cousins the highest-paid backup in the league, but a trade still seems more likely to happen. The Browns are the most probably landing spot.
Mar 24, 2025 1:34 PM EST
A league source told Josina Anderson that both Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins and Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis came up in recent preliminary trade inquiries or internal discussions. "Atlanta has been getting calls," the league source said, while also saying, "the Titans would like to transition." The Falcons continue to say they're willing to pay Cousins top money to serve as their backup in 2025, and they even kept him past last Saturday's $10 million guarantee deadline. However, Cousins doesn't want to be a backup, and Atlanta could give in if they get the right return, although they'd probably have to eat some money, too. The Titans are clearly ready to move on from Levis, who was benched last year, but it remains to be seen what kind of trade market he'd even have. It's looking a lot more likely that the Titans may hang onto the No. 1 overall pick and take Miami QB Cam Ward.
Mar 18, 2025 10:32 PM EST
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