Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins was signed to be the starter in 2024 and doubtlessly past, however then the crew drafted Michael Penix, Jr. within the first spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft. Now with Cousins trying shaky, it’s turning into extra doubtless the veteran gained’t be the starter in 2025.
Kirk Cousins 2024 stats
The play of Kirk Cousins has put his contract beneath the microscope. He has an interception in 4 straight video games together with a four-interception outing towards the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13. He leads the NFL in picks in 2024.
Wins aren’t a QB stat, however the Falcons are 0-3 over the past month and went from a powerful lead within the NFC South to second place within the division and utterly out of the playoffs at 6-7.
Kirk Cousins has contract protections inbuilt for the QB
This previous offseason, Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract however solely half of that’s assured. Really, that makes it a two-year, $90 million contract with $45-million crew choices for 12 months 3 and 12 months 4. Together with his $27.5 million 2025 wage absolutely assured, it’s unlikely the Falcons will straight up launch him, however they may commerce him. In the event that they commerce him, they might have paid him $62.5 million for one season at quarterback.
What are the cap ramifications of chopping Kirk Cousins?
Cousins’ 2025 wage is absolutely assured, so in the event that they lower Cousins, they are going to nonetheless owe him $27.5 million in money.
The Falcons have paid him $62.5 million however solely accounted for $25 million on their 2024 cap. If he’s not on the roster through lower or commerce, the remaining $37.5 million would have to be accounted for on the 2025 cap.
Should you add the $27.5 million to the $37.5 million, the $65 million useless cap hit can be the second-highest in NFL historical past behind solely Russell Wilson with the Denver Broncos.
What if the Falcons commerce Kirk Cousins?
To begin this dialog, it’s crucial that we point out that Cousins has a full no-trade clause and would wish to approve a transfer to a brand new crew. Nevertheless, his deal can be fairly reasonably priced for that new crew. They’d inherit one assured 12 months at $27.5 million on his contract, a really cheap quantity for Cousins. If that determine was the common, it could be simply the 18th-highest common QB wage within the NFL. Then they may hold him in 2026 for $45 million. (If I’m Cousins, a part of my negotiations for lifting the no-trade clause would come with guaranteeing some or the entire 2026 cash, which is an fascinating wrinkle.)
What are the cap ramifications of buying and selling Kirk Cousins?
For the Falcons, they’ve paid Cousins $62.5 million however solely accounted for $25 million on the wage cap. That leaves $37.5 million that must be accounted for. If he’s not on the roster by commerce, that might be his cap hit in 2025 for the Falcons. In the event that they commerce him after June 1, that might be break up between 2024 and 2025.
What’s his cap hit if the Falcons hold Cousins?
Like we mentioned earlier than, his 2025 wage is already absolutely assured so nothing would change on the stability sheet in the event that they saved him or lower him. They might additionally sit him because the veteran behind Penix and there may be little Cousins might do aside from create a stink within the media.