Forward of the beginning of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday evening, a report claimed that the Atlanta Falcons need an “buying group to pay $20M of the $45M value of ensures” left on the contract for wantaway quarterback Kirk Cousins to land his providers this spring.
Whereas talking with reporters on Wednesday, Falcons normal supervisor Terry Fontenot recommended he isn’t essentially enjoying hardball in commerce talks with different golf equipment.
“We haven’t put a quantity on it,” Fontenot stated relating to Cousins’ contract, as shared by Charles Odum of the Related Press. “We wouldn’t share particular conversations, however to reply your query, we wouldn’t put a particular quantity on it.”
Tales from days main as much as the draft linked Cousins with the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Vikings bringing Cousins again to the group isn’t likely, largely as a result of the membership needs 2024 first-round draft decide J.J. McCarthy to cement himself as its QB1 this spring after he missed all of his rookie season resulting from needing a full meniscus repair final summer season.
Cleveland nearly actually will choose a quarterback throughout the draft who could or could not compete with Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett for the 2025 Week 1 beginning gig. The Steelers hope to sign Aaron Rodgers as quickly as potential, however they do not know if he’ll play for them later this 12 months.
As for Cousins, he has a full no-trade clause connected to his contract and reportedly does not need to be part of a unique membership except he is promised a beginning job for the upcoming marketing campaign. Atlanta turned to 2024 first-round draft alternative Michael Penix Jr. this previous December and started springtime exercises with Penix atop the depth chart.
That stated, the Falcons have proven no signal they’ll minimize Cousins at any level earlier than coaching camp begins amid hypothesis that issues contained in the group’s quarterback room may get ugly.
“We’re going to do what’s greatest for this soccer group, whether or not that’s a commerce or no matter it’s,” Fontenot added about Cousins’ standing.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has identified that Cousins has proven since December 2024 that he’ll “be a superb soldier” if he’s requested to be Penix’s backup by the beginning of the 2025 season. One wonders if Cousins may attempt to drive Fontenot’s hand if at the least one quarterback-needy group fails to seize its desired quarterback throughout the draft.
