The Atlanta Falcons are sticking with quarterback Kirk Cousins for the 2025 season, even after his surprising benching late last year. Signed to a splashy four-year, $180 million deal in March 2024, Cousins started 14 games before rookie Michael Penix Jr. took over in Week 16. Despite the midseason switch, the Falcons confirmed on March 15 that they’re keeping the veteran QB on the roster, triggering a $10 million roster bonus for 2026. It’s a move that’s got fans and analysts buzzing about what’s next for the 36-year-old and his squad.
Cousins’ 2024 season was a rollercoaster. He kicked off strong, throwing for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns, including a franchise-record 509-yard game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But things took a turn after Week 9-his total QBR tanked to 34.2 over a brutal four-game losing streak, with zero touchdowns and eight picks.
“I didn’t forget how to play quarterback,” Cousins insisted in December, after head coach Raheem Morris made the call to bench him for Penix. That stretch saw Atlanta slip from 6-3 to 7-7, and with playoff hopes fading, the Falcons rolled the dice on their No. 8 overall pick.
So why keep Cousins? Money’s a big piece-$90 million of his deal is guaranteed, including $27.5 million for 2025. Cutting him before the bonus vested would’ve meant eating $40 million in dead cap this year, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “We understand it’s not ideal to have a backup at that cap number,” GM Terry Fontenot said at the NFL Combine, hinting at the practical side of retaining him.
$10M bonus locks QB in after 2024
Plus, Cousins met with owner Arthur Blank in early March, expressing his desire to start somewhere in 2025-though his no-trade clause gives him leverage if Atlanta explores moving him later.
Fans on X are split-some see Cousins as a pricey insurance policy for Penix, who went 2-1 as a starter with 737 yards and three touchdowns, while others argue his experience could still spark a turnaround. “I love Kirk Cousins… so does this football team,” Morris said, keeping the door cracked for a bigger role.
After all, the Falcons haven’t ruled out a trade, but with the bonus locked in, they’re in no rush. Cousins, recovering from a 2023 Achilles tear, could mentor Penix or reclaim the helm if the rookie stumbles. For now, Atlanta’s doubling down on their QB room, banking on Cousins’ pedigree to keep them in the NFC South hunt.
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