Who Should I Start? Kirk Cousins or Quinn Ewers

Thursday, January 29, 3:55 PM

Atlanta Falcons veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has two years left on his deal, but he's expected to be released in early March after the Falcons restructured his contract so that he'll be owed $68 million if he's on the roster on March 13, according to The Athletic's Josh Kendall. Cousins could be released and re-signed on a less-expensive contract as the Falcons look for insurance at the position behind Michael Penix Jr. (knee). The 37-year-old QB started the final seven games in 2025 after Penix tore his ACL in Week 11. Cousins ranked 37th in the NFL in EPA per dropback and threw for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions in his 10 games (eight starts). Even though new head coach Kevin Stefanski has a previous working relationship with Cousins from their time together with the Vikings in 2019, the feeling is that Atlanta is ready to move on from him this offseason. Penix's recovery this offseason could be the determining factor in whether Atlanta brings Cousins back in 2026.

Sunday, January 4, 7:35 PM

Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (knee) exited after taking a sack during the fourth quarter of Sunday's Week 18 loss against the New England Patriots. He was listed as questionable but ultimately did not return in the final minutes of the contest. Zach Wilson played the final few offensive snaps for Miami. Ewers finished the final game of the season with 137 passing yards, one touchdown, one interception, and four sacks. The rookie took over for Tua Tagovailoa in Week 16 and seemed to play well enough over the final few weeks to remain in competition for the backup job ahead of the 2026 season. However, Miami's starting quarterback plans for next year remain up in the air, as Tagovailoa is expected to be traded or released. Ewers is unlikely to be in the mix for the starting job, so he's not an appealing option in 2026 redraft leagues.