Atlanta Falcons make major Kirk Cousins bench decision with fears of $65 million-plus losses over struggling QB
The Atlanta Falcons’ decision to sit their $180 million quarterback is a drastic one.
Kirk Cousins has lost his starting position in Atlanta following a terrible run of football.
Michael Penix Jr., the Atlanta Falcons’ first-round draft selection, will replace him as the team’s starting quarterback, according to Ian Rapoport of NFLNetwork.
Regarding the team’s quarterback selection, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris issued a statement.
“After review we have made the decision Michael Penix Jr. will he the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward,” the statement continued.
“This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.”
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When the Falcons first offered Cousins a huge salary before this season, many were taken aback.
There were many doubts about Cousins’ abilities because he was 36 years old and had just recovered from an Achilles tear.
However, the Falcons awarded him a four-year, $180 million contract because they didn’t think those doubts were significant enough.
The Falcons further stunned the NFL community by selecting Penix with the eighth overall choice in the 2024 draft, shortly after they had signed Cousins.
The two motions were incongruous. Either Penix ends up starting and the Falcons blow $180 million on Kirk Cousins, or the Falcons got four solid years out of Cousins while Penix remained on the bench the entire time.
The roughly $200 million man is no longer on the field as a result of the latter.
Due of his subpar play in previous weeks, Cousins pushed the Falcons to make a decision.
for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions during the season.
The last five weeks have been very difficult, but those stats don’t appear to be that horrible.
Cousins has thrown nine interceptions and passed for just one touchdown since November 10.
The Falcons are 7-7 this season and still have a real shot to win the NFC South if they win their remaining games.
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That was enough to get Penix on the field for the final three games of the season.
The Falcons are left in an interesting financial situation now as they debate what to do with Cousins.
If they cut him from the roster before the start of the 2025 season they would be left with $65 million in dead cap.
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However, if they traded Cousins to a new team, that team would inherit $27.5 million while the Falcons hold on to the remaining $37.5 million.
It all depends on how Penix plays in relief of Cousins in the final three weeks of the season, but it makes sense for the Falcons to trade him.
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