Falcons' $24M fan favorite in jeopardy of losing his job for the first time as training camp looms

The Atlanta Falcons still face several key roster decisions—many of which have been looming since the end of last season, particularly regarding quarterback Kirk Cousins. Cousins was reportedly on the trade block in late spring and early summer, but all potential suitors seemed to stall out. According to Pro Football Network’s Jacob Infante, the Falcons could even consider cutting Cousins if no trade partner emerges.

“Realistically, a Kirk Cousins trade might be more realistic for the Atlanta Falcons, seeing as though cutting him would actually cost them $10 million this year,” Infante wrote. “He’s more of a trade candidate than a cut candidate, but if it reaches the point where Cousins refuses to suit up for Atlanta, they could have a tough choice to make.”

While the Cousins situation simmers, wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud has gone on record with a bold show of support for rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., even predicting a Super Bowl run.

“Boy, I’m excited, and I’m not gonna be surprised by any of it,” McCloud said. “I’ve watched [Penix] every day for the last year at practice, and I’m just ready to see him go into an experienced year, a polished year, and see how it goes — go all the way to the Super Bowl.”

Beyond quarterback uncertainty, the Falcons also face a new kind of decision on special teams. For the first time in five seasons, kicker Younghoe Koo has competition. The team signed Lenny Krieg, signaling a legitimate battle for the job. Koo, who missed nine field goals last season, received a public defense from special teams coordinator Marquice Williams.

“If Stephen Curry were to shoot a (3-point shot), and the guy blocked it, does that count as a missed 3 or does it count as a blocked 3?” Williams said. “Yeah. So, OK, he missed seven (because two of the nine misses were blocked). Two years prior, he missed five. Not making excuses or anything like that, but that’s not all on him when it comes to that.”

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Koo enters training camp under more pressure than he's faced in years. The job has belonged to him since his breakout Pro Bowl season in 2020, but the signing of Krieg makes one thing clear: nothing is guaranteed in the NFL.