Falcons Maintain Trade Possibilities for Kirk Cousins Amid Benchings
The Atlanta Falcons continue to navigate a turbulent quarterback situation, with veteran Kirk Cousins now sitting on the sidelines as one of the highest-paid backups in the NFL. After securing a hefty four-year contract worth $180 million—complete with a $50 million signing bonus and $100 million guaranteed—Cousins’ tenure with the Falcons has taken a downward turn. Following a series of missteps, including concealing an injury, he was benched, leaving the team to evaluate their options moving forward.
Cousins’ Brief Return to the Starting Lineup
Week 8 presented Cousins with a fresh opportunity to reclaim a starting role, as incumbent quarterback Michael Penix Jr. dealt with a bone bruise in his left knee. In his sole start this season, Cousins completed 21 of 31 passes, amassing 173 yards without a touchdown. Although his completion percentage of 67.7% might seem acceptable, the offense struggled significantly, managing a meager three points until a late, inconsequential touchdown as they trailed 31-10.
ESPN analyst Dan Granzino noted that despite these underwhelming stats, it would be premature to assume the Falcons’ window to trade Cousins has closed. “Cousins was not impressive in this game,” Granzino stated, highlighting the team’s disappointing output against a Miami defense that had previously allowed an average of 29.3 points per game.
Potential Trade Markets Remain Open
Granzino offered two compelling reasons why the Falcons shouldn’t count out a potential trade for Cousins. First, he mentioned that the Falcons might simply prefer to retain him, especially considering the weak alternatives such as Easton Stick, who would step up should Penix remain sidelined.
Secondly, Granzino pointed out that NFL teams are perpetually in search of quarterback talent. The Cincinnati Bengals recently made headlines by trading for Joe Flacco, demonstrating that even in-season trades for quarterbacks are plausible. This could open the door for the Falcons to consider trading Cousins to a division rival like the New Orleans Saints, who recently benched Spencer Rattler in favor of Tyler Shough. Shough’s performance faltered, completing only 56.7% of his passes for 128 yards and an interception.
The Future of Cousins in Atlanta
While the Falcons face uncertainty regarding Cousins’ future, Granzino believes that his performance against Miami doesn’t close the door on potential trade discussions. As the landscape of the NFL continues to evolve, the Falcons may very well find themselves in a position to leverage Cousins’ experience and contract in a trade that could yield valuable draft picks. While it remains to be seen how this situation unfolds, Cousins’ journey with the Falcons is far from over, leaving fans and analysts alike speculating on what comes next.
