The Atlanta Falcons have a lot of potential for the upcoming season, especially with Michael Penix Jr. leading the young offense. This is the year the Falcons have been building toward for so long. And while the excitement is real, Atlanta is still looking to clear some salary cap space.
One big name on the trade block is Kirk Cousins. But after Aaron Rodgers signed with the Steelers, the Falcons currently have no trade partners. This development has made the Falcons’ phone calls go stone cold as training camp approaches.
“That stinks for Cousins, and the Falcons may not be too thrilled about running out of trade options either. While Atlanta has said it is ‘comfortable’ keeping Cousins around as its backup, general manager Terry Fontenot can't be eager to hand out a $27.5 million salary to his QB2,” Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox wrote.
However, the Falcons will be watching the NFL closely for any quarterback injuries.
“But the moment that somebody hits their thumb on a helmet. The moment that somebody pulls up lame with a hamstring, the moment that anything happens to any quarterback, the first question is going to be: is this the team that trades for Kirk Cousins?” said NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
A potential trade could send Cousins back to a familiar place—the Minnesota Vikings, where he had a successful tenure before his Achilles injury. The Vikings may be uncertain about the progress of J.J. McCarthy during training camp.
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“The Vikings have turned to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season following knee surgery. If head coach Kevin O'Connell doesn't believe McCarthy is ready to start toward the end of camp, he could consider adding a familiar face in Cousins,” Knox wrote.
Cousins wants to join a team where he can start, and Minnesota is a place he loves. He can also provide veteran leadership for McCarthy as the young QB develops into the franchise’s future.