This offseason, the Minnesota Vikings made a franchise-altering decision by parting ways with quarterback Kirk Cousins. They opted to bring in Sam Darnold as a temporary bridge and drafted Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in April.
Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins joined the Atlanta Falcons with a hefty contract. However, just as he began settling into his new environment, the Falcons selected Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall just a month later. This decision immediately put pressure on the veteran’s timeline, and now, with the trade deadline fast approaching, speculation is rising.
Are the Atlanta Falcons Moving Kirk Cousins?
There’s currently no major momentum around moving Kirk Cousins. However, Fowler hints at an “educated assumption” that the 4-3 Falcons won’t hesitate to transition from Cousins to Penix, especially if the team’s performance doesn’t improve.
“If we’re aiming above the line of expected candidates and straight for the surprise bin, I’ll start with Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins as a trade candidate. To be clear: There is nothing moving here. The Falcons appear perfectly happy with Cousins, who is third in the NFL with 1,830 passing yards. But we can take information given to us and make educated assumptions. When I’ve asked people around the league whether they expect the Falcons to show restraint and sit Michael Penix Jr. for multiple years, the majority responded that they do not.”
The logic is straightforward: First-round picks usually play early, with few exceptions. It’s possible that the Falcons could emulate the Packers‘ strategy and keep Cousins for at least the two years of his $90 million guaranteed contract, which would be the prudent course of action. But coach Raheem Morris‘s offseason remark, “When do you transition to a new quarterback? When he can’t win,” keeps lingering. How the Falcons end this season may be a decisive factor.
Kirk Cousins on the Move?
A Kirk Cousins trade before the deadline remains improbable. Then again, it was unexpected when the Falcons drafted a quarterback with the No. 8 overall pick after committing $150 million to Cousins. Fortunately for Atlanta, they remain tied at the top of the NFC South.
Kirk Needs to Find Wins in Atlanta… and Soon
The Atlanta Falcons brought in Kirk Cousins to win. Meanwhile, Michael Penix was chosen as the team’s future leader. The pressure is on Cousins. To silence the trade rumors, he must secure more victories and take control of one of the weakest divisions in football.
The longer Kirk Cousins and the Falcons struggle to dominate the division, the higher the chances that Arthur Blank & Co. will decide to move on. Just a year ago, Cousins was on track for one of the most successful passing starts in Vikings history. Now, the clock is ticking.
