Who Should I Start? Kirk Cousins or Lamar Jackson

Tuesday, January 6, 12:56 PM

The Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Kirk Cousins agreed to tweak the final two years of the QB's contract on Tuesday, setting the stage for a decision on his future to be made by the third day of the new league year on March 13, a source told ESPN's Field Yates. Cousins now has a guarantee for $67.9 million for the 2027 season that will vest on March 13. The restructure also includes reducing Cousins' 2026 base salary from a non-guaranteed $35 million to just $2.1 million. Atlanta's front office is in flux following the firing of general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday, but the Falcons could still move on from Cousins before March 13 as a post-June 1 release. A release of that kind would split the dead money on Cousins' contract over 2026 and 2027, as opposed to the team taking on the full amount in 2026. The 37-year-old played in 10 games this season, including starting the final seven following Michael Penix Jr.'s season-ending knee injury. Cousins was serviceable, throwing 10 TDs and five interceptions, but he probably isn't in the team's long-term plans at the position.

Tuesday, January 13, 5:57 PM

Despite a disappointing 2025 season in which they failed to reach the playoffs, the Baltimore Ravens are standing behind franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "I want him to be my quarterback," owner Steve Bisciotti said on Tuesday. Baltimore's owner also said that Jackson, who is his own agent, seemed amenable to a new deal and made it clear he wants to get something done before free agency begins in March. There were rumors late in the 2025 season that the Ravens might consider trading the 29-year-old MVP in the offseason due to a rift with head coach John Harbaugh, but that pretty much ended when the Ravens surprisingly fired Harbaugh last week. Jackson missed several games due to a hamstring injury early in the season and just never looked like himself, finishing as the QB20 in fantasy points with 2,549 passing yards, 21 TDs, and seven interceptions. He also only ran for two touchdowns. With better health, Jackson will be a prime bounce-back candidate in 2026.