The Atlanta Falcons are excited about the roster they’ve assembled for the upcoming season, including several promising undrafted players. However, there remains one major financial concern: a significant portion of their salary cap is tied up in a player who may not see much time on the field.
Kirk Cousins no longer has a clear path to a starting role elsewhere. This comes after Aaron Rodgers signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, closing one of the few potential trade destinations.
“With Rodgers going to the Steelers, Cousins is left without a viable destination to satisfy his goal of being a starting quarterback in 2025. Thus, Cousins will be forced to play the waiting game -- perhaps until training camp, the preseason or into the regular season -- and monitor the health of quarterbacks around the NFL,” wrote Sports Illustrated’s Daniel Flick.
The amount of money Atlanta owes Cousins is a figure the organization would rather forget—but can’t ignore. For this season alone, the Falcons owe him $27.5 million, making the Rodgers signing a tough blow from a financial standpoint.
“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,” noted Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox.
Still, not all hope is lost for a trade. Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay floated an intriguing possibility: a deal with the Falcons’ arch-rival, the New Orleans Saints.
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“Still, the Saints could find a way to orchestrate a deal and instantly elevate themselves into contention. If they offer the right mix of financial benefits, draft capital and a replacement backup, the Falcons could ship Cousins to New Orleans to finish out his career,” Kay wrote.
Trades between division rivals are rare, but in this case, both sides might be motivated. The Falcons are looking to shed the weight of Cousins’ massive contract, and Cousins still wants the opportunity to start elsewhere.