Falcons will reportedly cut QB Kirk Cousins before $10M roster bonus is due

The Atlanta Falcons and Kirk Cousins will reportedly half methods after the season, in line with ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The 36-year-old quarterback, who’s in his first season with the Falcons, is anticipated to be minimize earlier than March 17, which is when he’s due a $10 million roster bonus.

After head coach Raheem Morris introduced this week that rookie Michael Penix Jr. would take over at quarterback for the remainder of the season, a break up with Cousins appeared inevitable.

Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal within the offseason to hitch the Falcons after six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. A month and an half after that free agent deal, Atlanta used the No. 8 total choose within the NFL Draft on Penix.

The Cousins state of affairs is just like what occurred between the Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson earlier this yr. The quarterback was minimize earlier than his $37 million wage turned totally assured on March 17. After being launched, Wilson would signal a one-year, $1.2 million cope with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ought to Cousins be in a distinct uniform in 2025, the Falcons can be on the hook for $26.3 million of the $27.5 million owed to him subsequent season.

Who is perhaps fascinated about Kirk Cousins?

There will probably be quite a few groups on the lookout for a quarterback within the offseason and, like Wilson, cheaper QBs would turn out to be immediately extra enticing.

Wilson, Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones will probably be amongst these probably available on the market and groups just like the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders could possibly be fascinated about Cousins in the event that they’re on the lookout for a bridge quarterback to mentor a younger sign caller they hope to pick out within the 2025 NFL Draft or, within the case of the Titans and Colts, one which they presently have beneath contract. Yahoo Sports activities’ Charles Robinson even threw the Cleveland Browns into the combo for Cousins if they need somebody to offer competitors for Deshaun Watson.

Cousins, who returned this season after struggling a torn Achilles in 2023, has thrown for 3,508 yards with 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions for the 7-7 Falcons, which have slim playoff probabilities with three video games to play. He has been picked off in 10 of his 14 video games performed.