Falcons Consider Trade Options for Kirk Cousins Amid Injury Concerns

Kirk Cousins, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback, recently disclosed that shoulder and elbow injuries from Week 10 affected his performance, contradicting earlier claims of being healthy. Despite mixed reports about his future, insiders indicate that there has been no communication between Cousins and the Falcons since the season ended, making a trade seem unlikely due to his no-trade clause and preference to be cut. The Falcons face a complicated financial decision, as cutting Cousins would incur significant costs while he is also set to become one of the highest-paid backup quarterbacks in NFL history. With the team committing to Michael Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback, the front office is weighing their options regarding Cousins, who signed a hefty four-year contract last offseason. Analysts suggest that a trade could save the Falcons around $27.5 million in cap space, though cutting him would be a costly decision. The impending March 17 roster bonus deadline adds urgency to their decision-making process.