When Kirk Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in March, no one expected him to be on the bench by the end of his first season.
The Falcons are expected to release their quarterback at the end of the season after Cousins was benched due to poor play and rookie Michael Penix Jr. will take his place, the newspaper reported. ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Cousins was paid a $10 million roster bonus on March 17, and NFL executives reportedly expect him to be released by then.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) takes the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Jeffrey Becker Imagine Images)
Even if the Falcons were able to waive Cousins by March 17th and save $10 million, they would still get a large chunk of Cousins' contract.
Of Cousins' $180 million contract, $100 million is guaranteed. If the Falcons waive Cousins before next season, they will pay a $65 million dead cap hit. Per Spotrac.
Cousins' cap hit next season would have been $40 million had he remained on the roster, but by cutting him, Cousins' cap hit against the Falcons' salary cap next season is an additional $25 million. will be added.
Rookie Penix Jr. is scheduled to start in place of Cousins when the Falcons play the New York Giants on Sunday, making Cousins the most expensive bridge quarterback in NFL history.
Cousins also has a no-trade clause, which he reportedly has no plans to waive.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, 18, throws the ball during the first half of a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. (Kirby Lee Iman image)
The 36-year-old quarterback was reportedly chosen by the Falcons with the No. 8 overall pick in last season's draft, choosing Cousins' eventual replacement rather than a player who can help the team win now. It is reported that he was dissatisfied with this.
Dissatisfied with Cousins' response, executives reportedly believe the quarterback is of no use to the team and has no intention of waiving his no-trade clause.
If he is actually released, Cousins would find himself in a similar situation this offseason to Russell Wilson's last offseason.
Wilson was released by the Denver Broncos last offseason, and the team is still paying him $53 million per Spotrac this season.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) throws a pass against the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Jeffrey Becker Imagine Images)
Wilson signed a one-year league veteran minimum contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the quarterback is still being paid by the Broncos.
Cousins stands to sign a league veteran contract with another team like Wilson, but he'll still be paid even if he doesn't play for the Falcons.
Through nine games, things were going well for Cousins and the Falcons. The team finished first in the NFC South with a record of 6 wins and 3 losses.
The team has now lost four straight, falling to 7 wins and 7 losses, and is out of the playoffs. On Monday, the Falcons stopped the slide with a 15-9 win over the lowly Las Vegas Raiders, but Cousins' poor play in the win forced head coach Raheem Morris to make a change.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., 9, warms up before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. (Stephen R. Silvany Images)
Cousins completed 66.9% of his passes this season, throwing for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also throwing a league-high 16 interceptions.
In addition to 16 interceptions, Cousins has 12 fumbles, tied for the most in the NFL with Baker Mayfield.
In his last five games, Cousins has thrown just one touchdown and nine interceptions.
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