Forward of the beginning of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday evening, a report claimed that the Atlanta Falcons need an “buying crew to pay $20M of the $45M price of ensures” left on the contract for wantaway quarterback Kirk Cousins to land his providers this spring.
Whereas talking with reporters on Wednesday, Falcons basic supervisor Terry Fontenot steered he isn’t essentially taking part in 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 because of needing a full meniscus repair final summer time.
Cleveland virtually actually will choose a quarterback in the course of 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 hooked up to his contract and reportedly would not need to be part of a unique membership until 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 commenced 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 crew’s quarterback room may get ugly.
“We’re going to do what’s greatest for this soccer crew, 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 very good soldier” if he’s requested to be Penix’s backup via the beginning of the 2025 season. One wonders if Cousins may attempt to drive Fontenot’s hand if at the very least one quarterback-needy crew fails to seize its desired quarterback in the course of the draft.
