Should the Falcons Keep Kirk Cousins?

The Atlanta Falcons’ general manager is looking to retain Kirk Cousins for the 2025 season, even though he lost his starting position to rookie Michael Penix Jr. last year. A discussion among Emmanuel Acho, Recine McCoy, James Jones, and Chase Daniel raises questions about the ethics of keeping Cousins in the mix.

This week, Cousins is attending the Falcons’ mandatory mini-camp, which is a notable move, especially since he had been negotiating for a deal prior to the offseason. He is currently in the second year of a four-year, $180 million contract, which he signed with Atlanta last offseason.

Cousins lost his starting role early in the 2024 season and is now in a pivotal position as head coach Raheem Morris evaluates his quarterback options for 2025.

“We’re moving forward. It’s about how we can be the best we can in 2025 as a team and as a quarterback room,” Cousins mentioned to reporters recently. It seems he’s committed to the team despite the changes.

While the possibility of trading Cousins still exists, he appears ready to compete against Penix for the starting position. The rapport they had during training camp last year feels quite different now, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding Cousins’ role. Towards the end of last season, it was clear that the coaching staff had some doubts about his abilities. Still, Penix’s performance has also raised eyebrows, making him a contender for the starting role.

Penix had a completion rate of 58.1% across three starts but matched it with three touchdowns and three interceptions. In comparison, Cousins has an established record over 13 years in the league that’s hard to overlook.

Cousins missed part of the previous season due to an Achilles injury, which affected his performance. He had remarkable seasons from 2020 to 2022, throwing for over 4,200 yards each year and earning Pro Bowl nods in both 2021 and 2022. However, in 2024, he led the league in interceptions (16) while throwing 18 touchdowns across 14 games, contributing to the Falcons’ 7-7 record with 3,508 passing yards.

If the Falcons see Penix as their future starting quarterback, it doesn’t quite make sense to keep Cousins, who has a hefty cap hit of $27.5 million for the season. Thus, the organization may look to make a move soon to avoid financial pitfalls.

There’s a chance that another team’s quarterback injury could result in a quick trade, but for now, Cousins seems focused on his role in Atlanta, regardless of what that might be.