NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
The Atlanta Falcons are in a pickle. Per EPSN, Falcons GM Terry Fontenot has said the team is willing to move forward with Kirk Cousins as their backup QB in 2025. Given the guaranteed money they paid him, does it really make sense to keep Kirk Cousins with so many QB-needy teams?
I get it. The Falcons want their cake and to eat it too. While they’re prepared to keep him on their roster, or so they say, doing so would cost them twice as much as if he wasn’t there. No matter how they spread it out, $65 million to keep or cut him. Whether it’s over the next two years or not, that money is owed so long as he’s on the team.
In today’s NFL, every dollar counts. If they want to move forward and build this team around Michael Penix Jr. and trading Cousins and shedding $27.5 million could land you upwards of two, three, or even four players. There are at least 2 quality starters they could get for $10 mil – $15 mil per season. What kind of message does it send to Penix Jr. if they don’t shed that cap space and try to bring him in a few more weapons or defensive playmakers who can help negate his struggles?
The problem they have is, that even if they trade him, they’re on the hook for everything but his base salary. Ideally, they could move on and only eat the $37.5 mill and pass the $27.5 mill to a new team, but the problem is Penix Jr. If he regresses, they have to have an able-bodied QB who can step in and lead the team while he gets back on track. The likelihood that QB could come in and play just as well if not better would come at a cost. Would that cost have been much cheaper than the money they saved trading away Kirk? If it’s close, why would they gamble on a backup struggling the same if they have a guy who already knows the system.
The problem isn’t just the money though. Even if you took money off the table as a deciding factor, it’s still a bonehead move to keep him whether the money was already allocated or not. Kirk Cousins is a proven starter. Whether or not he’s in the decline shouldn’t matter. You need the draft picks. Yes, plural, draft picks. Cousins might not command first-round compensation but easily could be worked into some mid-round or future picks.
The Falcons finished 8-9 so there season wasn’t terrible. There was a time when they could’ve grinned out and won the NFC South but didn’t quite have enough to get them over the hump. Here’s the thing, if the Atlanta Falcons think going to get a few playmakers is going to make up the two games they were behind in the division, they’re wrong. Not only do you have to nail your draft picks early on, you’re going to need depth.
The Falcons already have talent, but they need more. Too many teams give up on improving the back half of their roster, focusing only on the playmakers. They don’t get impact players who can give starters rest, guys get hurt, and fatigue sets in late in the season and that’s why teams fall apart in December.
If the Atlanta Falcons truly believe in Michael Penix Jr. then they need to trade Cousins for picks. Use the money they saved to lure in big-name free agents, draft star power players to develop behind those big-name free agents, and sign a cheaper backup option. There is far more value you can get out of moving Kirk Cousins than keeping him on the team if he continues to decline.
