Who Should I Start? Kirk Cousins or Patrick Mahomes

Thursday, January 9, 12:26 PM

Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said that the team is comfortable moving forward next year with quarterback Kirk Cousins as the backup to Michael Penix Jr. It's very unlikely that Cousins will be in Atlanta next year as a backup with a $40 million salary cap hit. The more likely outcome this offseason is that the Falcons end up trading Cousins to a team looking for a veteran QB while they find their signal-caller of the future in the draft. If Cousins were to be cut before June 1, he'd carry a $65 million cap hit for 2025. The 36-year-old is also due a $10 million roster cut on March 17, so if he's not traded, Atlanta is expected to cut him before then. Cousins was benched for Penix in Week 16 and ended up being a bust after signing a four-year, $180 million deal last offseason. The four-time Pro Bowler threw for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and a league-high 16 interceptions in his 14 starts.

Sunday, January 26, 10:50 PM

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 18 of 26 pass attempts (69%) for 245 yards and a touchdown in the 32-29 AFC Championship win over the Buffalo Bills. Mahomes also rushed 11 times for 43 yards and two touchdowns. The veteran quarterback completed a 23-yard pass to Xavier Worthy with a little over four minutes left in the fourth quarter to set up first-and-goal. The Chiefs then went on to kick the go-ahead field goal to end that drive. The Kansas City defense did their part, but Mahomes was instrumental on the ground in this crucial win. The 29-year-old will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2024-2025 Super Bowl. Kansas City will have two weeks to prepare for the 2023 Super Bowl rematch. Mahomes and the Chiefs will look to become the first NFL team ever to complete a three-peat.