Fаlconѕ unexpectedly ѕecure Kіrk Couѕіnѕ by trіggerіng $10 mіllіon roѕter bonuѕ аmіd trаde ѕpeculаtіon

The Atlanta Falcons have chosen to pay Kirk Cousins' $10 million roster bonus and retain him as their backup quarterback through the 2025-26 season.

The Atlanta Falcons are taking yet another costly gamble on Kirk Cousins. The team announced its intention to part ways with the quarterback following his disappointing performance this season. The Falcons attempted to search for trade partners but it seems like they did not receive convincing offers.

Atlanta has chosen to keep the veteran quarterback on their roster past this Saturday as per ESPN. That move will trigger a roster bonus worth $10 million which he is due for the 2026 season. The Falcons’ decision to retain Kirk Cousins is bizarre. If the team intends to keep him as a backup quarterback, it will prove to be a costly decision for them.

There is another possibility for Atlanta to retain Cousins. The team has not fully given up on him. They may be optimistic about his improving and earning the starter’s role back. If this is indeed the case then it will be due to the team’s reluctance to make Michael Penix the franchise quarterback.

Penix has shown promise in his rookie year. He put up 775 yards,3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions this season. Atlanta was impressed and began to give him more opportunities before declaring him the starting quarterback. Cousins then took a step back and mentored Penix for the rest of the season.

The most likely scenario is that Penix starts and Cousins backs him up. Terry Fontenot, the General Manager of the Falcons expressed that the team was “comfortable” in retaining the 36-year-old in backup capacity.

Atlanta is okay with the idea of Kirk Cousins backing up Michael Penix

The quarterback signed a deal to play in Atlanta for four seasons and stood to earn $180 million. He has received $100 million as guaranteed money. The man was meant to be the quarterback who took Atlanta back to the Super Bowl, however, his uncomfortable five-game stretch over which he threw 9 interceptions and 1 touchdown.

Kirk Cousins remains optimistic of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. However, his numbers are not good enough to be a starter in Atlanta. He is in an unfavorable position wherein he cannot do anything but wait and watch. The quarterback is rumored to have met with team owner Arthur Blank. They likely discussed his future with the team and the direction that the franchise is going towards. In the event of a trade, Cousins would have urged Blank only to trade him to teams where he will be the starter.

The Cousins era in Atlanta was short-lived. The team has become unpredictable in the off-season. Last year, despite signing a veteran quarterback, they decided to draft Michael Penix in the first round. This decision surprised everybody including Kirk Cousins.

The GM and ownership were heavily criticized for picking a quarterback early on in the draft, however, that decision proved to be a good one as Cousins underperformed. The quarterback will be hard to trade because teams are not too keen on bringing him aboard and his no-trade clause ensures that he cannot be traded to a team he does not wish to play for.

The situation is still concerning for the Falcons. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero expressed some of the key concerns that the team should have.

Atlanta has paid Cousins a lot and the team understands they are not in an ideal position. However, at this point, they believe Cousins is more valuable to them sitting on the sidelines rather than playing for another team.