Atlanta Falcons legend Matt Ryan doesn’t believe Kirk Cousins will be traded from the franchise as head coach Raheem Morris pivots to handing over the starting quarterback job to Michael Penix Jr.
He does, however, hope a situation opens up where Cousins can find an NFL home that offers him an opportunity to prove he’s still a winner.
“I think they made it clear Penix is their starter moving forward. I think Raheem has been steadfast on that, moving forward, and that's contingent on Michael being able to stay healthy. I think he's talented. In the two or three games that he played at the end of the year, I think he showed a lot of promise, so I'm optimistic about him in the future and and we'll see how it shakes out,” Ryan told me at the 2025 American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe on Wednesday.
“I think there's room to move after this coming season. I think unless something happens during training camp or somebody gets hurt across the league, then a trade can happen. I just don't see them moving him, and they've kind of put their hands up on that side too. So hopefully something comes available for Kirk. I think he's still got good football in front of them if he gets healthy. I don't think he was really healthy all last season. So getting healthy, I would think, would help him.”
Cousins expressed a desire to continue playing in May while admitting he takes each season one year at a time.
“I've gone back several years now, I've kind of always taken the approach of one year at a time because I know how much one year in this league can change the conversation. So, I just kind of go year-to-year, but sitting here after Year 13, I do still have a desire to play,” Cousins told Sports Illustrated.
Time will tell if a team like the Cleveland Browns or Pittsburgh Steelers makes a move for the 36-year-old. The Browns have an ongoing quarterback competition with no standouts, and the Steelers have an Aaron Rodgers problem that could sort itself out soon enough in 2025 to give Pittsburgh a chance to make a trade for a suitable starter.
“Matty Ice” just wants to see Cousins get a chance somewhere.
About the 2025 American Century Championship
The American Century Championship will air from Friday to Sunday on NBC, Peacock, and the GOLF Channel. Ryan is one of over 90 athletes and celebrities in the annual mid-July golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada.