Veteran QB is reportedly set to sign a shocking deal with the Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have finally resolved their franchise quarterback issues.
According to Kirk Cousins’ representative, Mike McCartney, the team reached an agreement on a four-year contract with the former Minnesota Vikings free agent quarterback on Monday.
A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Cousins’ contract is worth $180 million ($45 million a season), with $100 million guaranteed.
“After significant and positive dialogue with Kirk and his representatives, we were unable to reach an agreement on a contract that fits the short- and long-term visions for both Kirk and the Minnesota Vikings,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in a statement. “Kirk has a particular position in Vikings history, and we value his leadership and contributions to the organization and the Minneapolis-St. Paul community over the last six years. We wish him, his wife Julie, and his children the best. Our approach to free agency has always included multiple levels of contingencies for the quarterback position. We are going forward with intentions to continue creating a championship-caliber roster.
Cousins joins an attack that includes several players selected in the first round. The Falcons boast three first-round offensive linemen: left tackle Jake Matthews, right tackle Kaleb McGary, and right guard Chris Lindstrom, who has been to the Pro Bowl twice. He also has Atlanta’s last three first-round picks, tight end Kyle Pitts, receiver Drake London, and running back Bijan Robinson, as skill position players to work with.
Atlanta’s agreement with Cousins should complete the team’s multiyear search for a replacement for 2016 NFL MVP Matt Ryan, who was moved to the Indianapolis Colts before the 2022 season following a failed pursuit of Deshaun Watson.
The Falcons then signed Marcus Mariota as their starting quarterback and selected Desmond Ridder in the third round of the 2022 draft. Mariota started 13 games before being benched in favor of Ridder, who started the final four games of the 2022 season and became the team’s starting quarterback in 2023.
Ridder was benched twice in 2023 in favor of backup Taylor Heinicke, but neither performed well, and the Falcons ultimately fired old head coach Arthur Smith and replaced him with Raheem Morris. In a news conference following Smith’s firing, team owner Arthur Blank referred to the quarterback play last season as “deficient,” vowing to address the team’s quarterback woes.
Last season, Ridder completed 64.2% of his throws, totaling 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and 12 fumbles. Heinicke completed 54.4% of his passes, totaling 890 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Both Ridder and Heinicke are under contract for the 2024 season, but if Heinicke is released, the Falcons will save $6.96 million against the cap and avoid paying him a $1.32 million roster bonus if he is not with Atlanta by March 17.
Cousins, 35, was having one of his greatest seasons in 2023 and was one of the NFL’s most durable quarterbacks until he tore his right Achilles tendon in Week 8 at Lambeau Field. He was tied for the NFL lead in passing touchdowns (18) and second in passing yards (2,331).
Prior to the injury, he has started 136 of 138 games since becoming the Washington Commanders’ starting quarterback in 2015. One of those two missed starts occurred in 2019, when the Vikings rested their starters for the playoffs, and the other occurred in 2021, following a positive COVID-19 test.
Cousins played three seasons as Washington’s full-time starter but was unable to reach an agreement on a long-term commitment. He spent his final two seasons with the team on the franchise tag, preparing to hit the free agent market in 2018 at the age of 30 — an unusual occurrence for a high-level quarterback who is available to every NFL team in his prime.
The Vikings, one year after backup Case Keenum led them to the 2017 NFC Championship Game, acted quickly, anticipating he could lead the team to a Super Bowl appearance. They fulfilled his request for a fully guaranteed three-year contract worth $84 million and have already signed him to extensions in 2020 and 2022 to give short-term salary cap relief.
During that time, the Vikings did not get any closer to winning the Super Bowl. They finished 50-37-1 during the regular season, winning the NFC North title, and went 1-2 in the playoffs.
As a result, during negotiations in the spring of 2023, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah decided not to extend Cousins’ guaranteed component of the contract beyond the 2024 season. Instead, the two parties reached an agreement that allowed the Vikings to cut Cousins’ salary cap figure while also guaranteeing Cousins a path to free agency in 2024 without the franchise tag.
In 12 NFL seasons, the four-time Pro Bowl selection has 39,471 throwing yards, ranking him fifth among current quarterbacks and 24th all-time. Cousins’ 270 touchdowns are 20th all-time, while he has 110 interceptions. He has also ran for 958 yards and 19 touchdowns.
