Kirk Cousins’ only escape from Falcons may involve replacing $150M QB for bitter NFC rival

Each day that Kirk Cousins remains on the Atlanta Falcons roster continues to surprise many around the league.

Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million deal last offseason, is currently on track to become the highest-paid backup quarterback in NFL history — thanks to No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. reportedly being in line to start.

“I think it’s fair to say — free agency has come and gone, the draft has come and gone. As of right now, it certainly appears as if Kirk Cousins is set to be their backup quarterback for the 2025 season,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer echoed that sentiment, noting that most of the windows to trade Cousins are dwindling. The last realistic deadline, he said, would come in late July when training camps begin.

CBS Sports’ Joel Corry also agrees with Rapoport and Breer, saying a trade would likely only happen if a team loses its starting quarterback to injury. Still, he mentioned one intriguing possibility to monitor.

“Barring an injury to a starting quarterback during offseason workouts, the preseason or early in the regular season, the Falcons and Cousins could be stuck with each other until 2026,” Corry wrote. “One situation to watch is with the New Orleans Saints, an NFC South rival, because of starting quarterback Derek Carr’s injured right shoulder.”

Carr, who signed a four-year, $150 million contract with New Orleans back in 2023, has reportedly met with the Saints twice in recent weeks, according to NFL Network’s Jane Slater. He believes he suffered the shoulder injury in the same game he hurt his wrist — a Week 14 matchup against the Giants.

The real question now: would the Falcons actually consider trading Cousins to their bitter division rival in the Saints?

The timing would need to be perfect, and Atlanta would have to weigh whether it’s worth the risk. The last thing the Falcons want is to face Cousins down the stretch of the season — especially if it comes at the cost of an eighth straight postseason miss.