Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is down however not out.
On Tuesday, Atlanta benched the 13-year veteran lower than one season right into a four-year, $180 million contract he signed in March. Rookie Michael Penix Jr. will start in his place.
In a story published Wednesday, ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler famous that Cousins’ Falcons profession is “successfully over.”
The transfer is expensive for the Falcons and underscores how poorly Cousins has performed lately. In his previous 5 begins, he has thrown one landing move and 9 interceptions.
The Falcons are basically paying him $90 million for lower than an entire season — $62.5 million this season in wage and bonuses, plus his $27.5 million 2025 wage.
However that is partly why he could possibly be engaging to quarterback-needy groups this offseason. With Atlanta paying him subsequent yr, Cousins can signal with one other crew on a one-year, veteran’s minimal deal. And with one other offseason to rehab from his 2023 Achilles damage, he would possibly play a lot better subsequent season.
Listed below are 5 groups that could possibly be in play for Cousins.
5. Minnesota Vikings
Let’s begin with the case for Cousins returning to Minnesota.
The Vikings is perhaps unable to maintain up with a bidding battle for 2024 starter Sam Darnold, who’s a 2025 unrestricted free agent.
Rookie first-round choose J.J. McCarthy is in line to be his successor. Nevertheless, coming off a season-ending knee damage throughout the preseason, McCarthy might sit behind Cousins, who could possibly be a great bridge quarterback. Or he could possibly be McCarthy’s backup.
Cousins would have a a lot better likelihood of being a starter elsewhere, but when he settles into his backup function in Atlanta, he may not have a difficulty returning north and driving the bench.
4. Tennessee Titans
It is onerous to see Will Levis getting back from being benched for Mason Rudolph.
Titans head coach Brian Callahan could have already seen sufficient of the 2023 second-round choose, who threw three interceptions (together with his league-leading fourth pick-six) in opposition to the Bengals in a 37-27 Week 15 loss.
Tennessee was one of many extra aggressive groups throughout the offseason, signing working again Tony Pollard (three years, $21.8 million) and huge receiver Calvin Ridley (4 years, $92 million) as free brokers and buying and selling with the Chiefs for cornerback L’Jarius Sneed after which signing him to a four-year, $76.4 million extension.
The Titans want an improve at quarterback, and a wholesome Cousins can be that over Levis or Rudolph.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have already turned one crew’s trash into treasure. If any group might do it once more, it could be Pittsburgh.
The Steelers benefited from Denver’s determination to chop Russell Wilson two years right into a five-year, $242.6 million contract this offseason.
Wilson has helped lead Pittsburgh to first within the AFC North, throwing for 1,912 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions in eight begins. His 103 passer score is his greatest since his last season with the Seahawks (2021).
The Steelers are solely on the hook for 3.1 % of Wilson’s $39 million 2024 wage ($1.2 million) and will attain an identical settlement with Cousins if Wilson and backup Justin Fields go away in free company.
2. Cleveland Browns
Dorian Thompson-Robinson hopes to prove he could be Cleveland’s 2025 starter together with his end-of-season audition.
On Tuesday, head coach Kevin Stefanski benched Jameis Winston, who has thrown 12 interceptions in seven begins, for the second-year professional, who hasn’t proven a lot in 12 profession appearances. Thompson-Robinson is 75-of-146 (51.4 %) for 540 yards (3.7 yards per try), one landing and 7 interceptions.
The Browns are caught in an not possible scenario with Deshaun Watson, who is simply too terrible to play however too expensive to chop. Cousins could possibly be a large present.
As low-cost as Cousins shall be, Cleveland might maintain him and Watson on its roster.
If the Browns retain Stefanski, Cousins would make much more sense. Stefanski was Cousins’ quarterbacks coach (2018) and offensive coordinator (2019) within the QB’s first two seasons with the Vikings.
1. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have been right here earlier than. Within the years following former quarterback Andrew Luck’s shock retirement, Indianapolis spent seasons working with veteran, stopgap quarterback choices, together with Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan.
The Anthony Richardson period has didn’t get off the bottom, doubtlessly placing the Colts able to revert to their outdated methods.
Richardson has thrown for 1,683 yards (6.7 yards per try), seven touchdowns (and 11 interceptions) and posted a horrible 47 % completion proportion.
Jonathan Taylor is without doubt one of the league’s greatest backs (so long as he remembers to carry on to the soccer). Coming into Week 16, the Colts are the one crew to have three huge receivers with no less than 600 receiving yards (Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, Michael Pittman Jr.). (h/t Stathead)
Indianapolis’ cabinet is not naked. Cousins would possibly be capable of wring extra out of the Colts’ expertise.
