There has only been one season played since the Minnesota Vikings and Kirk Cousins parted ways, but it feels like much longer due to all the drama and speculation surrounding the veteran quarterback lately.
The Vikings were able to get the most out of Sam Darnold last year, but Cousins struggled to look like the passer he was in Minnesota. Coming off an Achilles tendon injury, the 36-year-old signal-caller was benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. in Atlanta last season.
Normally, this wouldn't be a huge problem in the NFL. However, Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year deal worth $180 million with $100 million guaranteed and a $50 million signing bonus. Plus, his deal includes a no-trade clause that would make dealing the quarterback more difficult.
If the Falcons are going to move forward with Penix, they would likely love to find some way to minimize the financial damage of the massive contract that Kirk Cousins would earn while acting as a backup in Atlanta.
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins could be heading to the AFC
The Minnesota Vikings are ready to start the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft at quarterback this season. The team has done everything it can to support its young quarterback and prepare for the future. However, not every team is ready for a young passer to step in and could use a veteran to ease the transition for at least a season or two.
In a Bleacher Report article by Adam Wells, ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler recently shared that an AFC team could be interested in Kirk Cousins' services in 2025. In an article, he shares a report that the Pittsburgh Steelers have the veteran passer on their radar as an option if they cannot sign Aaron Rodgers.
The situation in Pittsburgh isn't good right now. A quarterback competition between Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Skylar Thompson would be the current plan if nothing changes for the Steelers before the start of the season.
"Atlanta would need a team to offset some of that money, whether it's $4 million, $20 million, whatever it is, but the feeling around the league is that Atlanta has not been willing to budge on this."Jeremy Fowler
Finding a team willing to eat some of that guaranteed money on Kirk Cousins' contract could be a real challenge. Not only that, but Cousins would need to agree to be dealt to that team even if the two franchises work something out.
This is quite a mess for the Atlanta Falcons. It's a great thing the Minnesota Vikings are confident in J.J. McCarthy during the 2025 NFL season and they don't have to worry about a sloppy situation like this.
