After failing to secure his release before free agency, Kirk Cousins is taking a patient approach regarding his future in Atlanta. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the veteran quarterback is opting to wait until after the NFL Draft before considering a trade, delaying any decision on waiving his no-trade clause.
The Falcons retained Cousins long enough for $10 million of his 2026 salary to become fully guaranteed, signaling their willingness to keep him as a high-priced backup. However, Cousins is still hoping to find a starting opportunity elsewhere, though he wants to avoid a repeat of last year’s situation in Atlanta. After signing a four-year, $160 million contract in March 2024, the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick just weeks later, immediately putting pressure on the 13-year veteran while making it clear he wasn’t the franchise’s long-term solution.
When Cousins struggled in December, Atlanta benched him in favor of Penix, effectively ending his tenure with the team after 14 games. Now in 2025, he wants to avoid joining a team that could draft a quarterback early. That presents a challenge with his top potential suitors—the Browns and Giants—who hold the second and third overall picks and are heavily linked to quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.
By waiting, Cousins allows these teams to assess their options in the draft. The Browns and Giants can evaluate Ward, Sanders, and other prospects like Jaxson Dart before deciding whether to pursue Cousins. Meanwhile, the Steelers, seen as frontrunners for Aaron Rodgers, could also become a landing spot if their pursuit of the veteran falls through. However, Pittsburgh might first explore trading up from the 21st pick for a top quarterback prospect.
According to Breer, Cousins would only agree to a trade before the draft if his new team guarantees they won’t use a first-round pick on a quarterback. This could complicate negotiations with Cleveland and New York, where front offices are focused on securing a long-term franchise signal-caller.
There is a scenario where the Browns, recognizing their talented roster was plagued by injuries last season, opt to trade for Cousins and use their No. 3 pick to bolster another position, such as wide receiver or pass rusher. The Giants, however, appear less likely to take this route. With several roster needs to address, they have indicated plans to bring in another veteran while still drafting a quarterback in the first round, even after signing Jameis Winston.
Cousins’ strategy carries some risk. If the Browns, Giants, and Steelers all solidify their quarterback situations by the end of the draft, his trade market could shrink significantly, leaving him stuck in Atlanta as Penix’s backup with a hefty $27.5 million salary.
For the Falcons, moving Cousins would already result in $37.5 million in dead cap charges—$12.5 million in 2025 and $25 million in 2026. Retaining part or all of his 2025 salary would push the cost to $90 million for just 14 starts, a financial burden that owner Arthur Blank would prefer to avoid, per Breer.
These financial constraints will also affect the draft capital teams are willing to offer for Cousins. While his preferred outcome remains securing a starting role elsewhere, it seems other key quarterback moves will need to take place before his future becomes clearer.
