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The Kirk Cousins saga in Atlanta has taken yet another twist. What started as a promising partnership has evolved into one of the NFL’s most bizarre quarterback situations, leaving Falcons fans increasingly frustrated. When Atlanta signed Cousins to a massive deal last March, they envisioned him leading the franchise for at least two seasons. Instead, his late-season struggles combined with Michael Penix Jr.’s emergence have completely changed the narrative.
Cousins appeared shocked when Atlanta drafted his potential replacement before he’d even taken his first snap for the team. But should he have been? The veteran quarterback was recovering from a serious Achilles injury in his mid-30s with zero Super Bowl appearances on his resume. The writing was clearly on the wall.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recently provided some fascinating insights into Cousins’ contract situation as the divorce proceedings with Atlanta heat up. According to Breer, Cousins won’t waive his no-trade clause unless he’s guaranteed a full-season starting job in 2025. He’s drawn a clear line in the sand — if a team selects a quarterback early in the draft, he simply won’t go there.
The Falcons could potentially have a trade framework ready before the NFL Draft kicks off.
Who might trade for Cousins?
Breer identified the Browns, Giants, and Steelers as potential landing spots. Here’s where it gets tricky — all three teams could reasonably target a quarterback in the first round of the 2025 draft. The Titans are widely expected to take Miami’s Cam Ward with the first overall pick, which could leave one team scrambling for a veteran option.
I’d be shocked if Cleveland or New York passed on Colorado‘s Shedeur Sanders if available in the top three. Pittsburgh might target Ole Miss standout Jaxson Dart at No. 21, which would eliminate them from Cousins’ consideration. And don’t forget Aaron Rodgers is playing the waiting game too — though as a free agent, he’s in a different position entirely.
From Atlanta’s perspective, they’re likely to receive future draft compensation for Cousins this offseason. While most probable is a 2026 pick, there’s an outside chance of 2025 draft capital if everything gets finalized quickly enough. The Falcons have already shown they’re willing to absorb the $10 million in guaranteed money plus most of his salary for at least this season.
The key domino? At least one quarterback-needy team must leave the draft without their signal-caller of the future. If Tennessee does select Ward first overall, Cousins’ trade market immediately expands. Among the teams potentially drafting quarterbacks early, I trust the Giants most to actually pull the trigger, while the Browns seem most likely to second-guess themselves.
That’s why I strongly believe Cousins will be starting for an AFC North team when next season kicks off.
