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.

Wednesday, January 7, 12:31 PM

The Baltimore Ravens surprisingly fired long-time head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons at the helm on Tuesday, and they are looking for a new head coach who will "reach and "invigorate" quarterback Lamar Jackson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Baltimore wants to find someone who can get the "absolute most" out of Jackson going forward. The two-time MVP QB seemed disinterested during the 2025 season, but he also missed a few games with a hamstring injury and was constantly listed on the injury report with nagging lower-body injuries. The 28-year-old dual-threat QB also missed a game late in the year with a back contusion. There were reports of a rift between Jackson and Harbaugh this year, and there were even rumors that Jackson could be traded in the offseason. With Harbaugh now out in Baltimore, it appears that the Ravens are moving forward with the plan to keep Jackson as the face of the franchise.