According to a report from Adam Schefter, the Falcons are expected to cut Kirk Cousins before March 17, which is when his $10 million roster bonus kicks in.
Atlanta paid Cousisn $180 million about eight months ago, and he’ll likely walk away with $90 million for 14 games worth of work. It can only be seen as an unmitigated disaster on the part of the Falcons.
As Schefter notes, the Falcons are expected to cut Cousins, but there’s a scenario in which the club can somehow convince the veteran to waive his no-trade clause, right? Wrong. Schefter continued in that report by saying that Cousins isn’t expected to help out the Falcons whatsoever.
“Had the situation in Atlanta been handled differently, in the eyes of executives across the league, the Falcons maybe would have had a chance to work with Cousins to facilitate a trade to another team. But considering the history that has unfolded in recent months, that is not expected to be the case.”
Atlanta shocked not only their fans and the rest of the league with their Michael Penix Jr. pick, but also their incumbent quarterback, whom they had just signed. Cousins was rightfully upset at the time of the draft, so there’s no reason to believe he’ll help out the Falcons this offseason.
“The Falcons might try to see whether there’s a way to trade Cousins but will need his cooperation, and nobody across the league expects them to get it, meaning it’s only a matter of time before Atlanta will be left with no choice but to release him.”
Someone needs to be held accountable for this horrible mistake, but if Michael Penix Jr. wins a few games and captures a postseason berth, Arthur Blank will be fat and happy. Nothing will happen.
