Falcons expected to cut Cousins before $10M due

Kirk Cousins' divorcement from the Falcons is expected to beryllium finalized earlier his $10 cardinal roster prize is owed March 17, pinch executives crossed the convention afloat expecting Atlanta to person to merchandise him by then.

The divided betwixt Cousins and the Falcons is inevitable astatine this point, according to aggregate sources.

Front agency executives watching the business person pointed retired that, owed to the no-trade clause successful Cousins' contract, he now has each the leverage -- and cipher believes he will beryllium doing immoderate favors for a Falcons squad that amazed him connected draught nighttime by selecting different backmost -- Michael Penix Jr. -- successful the first round, past benching him this week successful favour of the rookie.

Thus location now is simply a wide anticipation crossed the convention that the Falcons will not beryllium capable to waste and acquisition Cousins and they will person to merchandise him earlier March 17, erstwhile his $10 cardinal roster prize for the 2026 play comes due. There's nary request for the Falcons to sorb immoderate much costs for a backmost that costs them $90 cardinal for 14 games.

Therefore, for the 2nd consecutive offseason, Cousins is expected to go a free agent, capable to take the squad and business that he believes will beryllium champion for him.

The Broncos were successful a akin business past offseason, erstwhile Russell Wilson yet was released earlier his $37 cardinal net for the 2025 play became afloat guaranteed. Wilson's guarantee was owed connected March 17, 2024, precisely 1 twelvemonth earlier Cousins' roster prize pinch the Falcons is besides due.

Wilson signed a one-year woody pinch the Steelers worthy the veteran's minimum astatine $1.2 cardinal -- akin to the type of statement offers the 36-year-old Cousins would section from different teams if he chooses to play successful 2025.

Had the business successful Atlanta been handled differently, successful the eyes of executives crossed the league, the Falcons possibly would person had a chance to activity pinch Cousins to facilitate a waste and acquisition to different team. But considering the history that has unfolded successful caller months, that is not expected to beryllium the case.

Cousins was not informed that the Falcons would draught a backmost until they called the four-time Pro Bowler while they were connected the timepiece for their first-round prime April.

This caused vexation and disorder from the Cousins' camp, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported connected draught night, because Atlanta didn't usage the eighth wide prime connected a subordinate to support Cousins and make the squad better; alternatively the Falcons selected a subordinate to yet return complete for Cousins.

"He sewage the telephone connected the clock, evidently because of the delicate clip pinch the issues of what you sewage going on," Falcons caput coach Raheem Morris said successful April aft the first round. "It's ne'er a correct clip to talk to a backmost astir those things, and reactions are ever going to beryllium backstage erstwhile it comes to those things, unless Kirk decides to show you immoderate of those things that are immoderate they whitethorn be.

"But he's a competitor, conscionable for illustration america all. And you tin ever expect those things to spell conscionable for illustration you benignant of think."

The Falcons announced Tuesday that Penix was their starting backmost "moving forward" pinch 3 games remaining this season, sending Cousins to the chair conscionable months aft he signed a four-year, $180 cardinal statement that included $100 cardinal guaranteed.

The Falcons whitethorn effort to spot if there's a measurement to waste and acquisition Cousins but will request his cooperation, and cipher crossed the convention expects them to get it, meaning it's only a matter of clip earlier Atlanta will beryllium near pinch nary prime but to merchandise him.

What besides makes the move absorbing is the perceived shortage of value quarterbacks disposable this offseason. Next year's draught is not considered arsenic bully aliases heavy astatine the backmost position arsenic this year's, and the free-agent backmost people presently is scheduled to see Sam Darnold, Wilson and yet Cousins.

Teams expected to beryllium successful the backmost marketplace this offseason see the Steelers, Jets, Giants, Raiders, Saints, Browns and Titans. As usual, location aren't capable quarterbacks for everyone.

Morris said Wednesday that the biggest facet successful benching Cousins was his turnovers. Cousins has a league-leading 16 interceptions, and his 12 fumbles is tied for the astir successful the NFL pinch Buccaneers backmost Baker Mayfield.

"There's a modular that I person for myself, that the squad has for me, that, unfortunately, I wasn't playing up to that modular consistently enough," Cousins said Wednesday successful his first comments since being benched. "And so, it is what it is, and you rotation pinch it and now you still get fresh -- 'one play away' benignant of a point -- and support Mike and conscionable effort to thief our squad beryllium capable to find a measurement to triumph these past 3 to get successful the playoffs, and that's what it's each about."

The Falcons (7-7) are 2nd successful the NFC South but ain the tiebreaker complete the first-place Buccaneers (8-6) and person a 20% chance of making the playoffs, according to ESPN's Football Power Index projections.

Atlanta hosts the struggling Giants (2-12) connected Sunday, erstwhile Penix will make his first profession start.

Cousins, 36, said Wednesday that contempt coming backmost from a torn Achilles successful 2023, he is not injured. As acold arsenic beyond this season, He said he will woody pinch that erstwhile the clip comes.

"I didn't hide really to play quarterback," he said. "Certainly, turnovers were not what you want, but I didn't hide really to play."

ESPN's Marc Raimondi contributed to this report.