Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins could be an option for the Pittsburgh Steelers if they are not able to sign free-agent QB Aaron Rodgers (Jets), in the opinion of SI.com's Albert Breer.

Fantasy Spin: The Steelers are still waiting for a decision from Rodgers, so Cousins could be a backup plan if things do not work out. Whoever starters for the Steelers next season should be considered a No. 2 fantasy quarterback.

From TheHuddle

Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins could end up getting traded to the Cleveland Browns at some point this offseason, according to sources via The Athletic's Dianna Russini.

Fantasy Spin: It is mildly surprising this possibility is not getting discussed more often. The Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers are about the only teams left that desperately need a quarterback and the Steelers appear focused on Aaron Rodgers. Among the reasons why Cleveland makes sense for Cousins is that he played in Minnesota under then-offensive Kevin Stefanski. From Atlanta's end, the Falcons likely have no desire to keep Cousins' big contract on their payroll any longer than they have to and would undoubtedly love to acquire more draft capital.

From TheHuddle

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is not expected to participate in the team's voluntary offseason training program, according to head coach Raheem Morris. Cousins is just over a year removed from signing a four-year, $180 million contract ($100 million guaranteed) but was benched after throwing 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 14 games last season for first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. The team has stated they are comfortable keeping Cousins on the roster as a backup, but he could still be cut or traded at some point before the 2025 regular season.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is not expected to attend organized team activities this offseason, head coach Raheem Morris said Tuesday, April 1.

From TheHuddle

Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins' contract features a clause that would allow the team to restructure the deal whenever they wish. The Falcons could create up to $20.996 million in 2025 salary cap space by reducing his salary for the upcoming year from $27.5 million to $1.255 million, paying the remainder as a bonus and then spreading it over the next five years.

Fantasy Spin: Restructuring Cousins' contract would only make sense if the Falcons plan to keep him as a backup to Michael Penix Jr. for the upcoming season, as opposed to dealing him elsewhere. Cousins has a no-trade clause in his contract but would probably waive it in order to become a starter with another team. If the 36-year-old veteran receives an opportunity to start regularly in 2025, he can be viewed as a high-end QB2 option for fantasy leagues.

From TheHuddle

There are a ton of moving parts with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins' situation this offseason, but SI.com's Albert Breer writes that Cousins could waive is no-trade clause after April's NFL draft. Breer believes Cousins wants to avoid the situation he found himself in with the Falcons last year when he was blind-sided by the Falcons' decision to select Michael Penix Jr. in the first round. Before accepting any potential trade, the 36-year-old veteran has signaled to interested teams that he wants to wait until after the draft to pick his new team. Breer has heard that Cousins' camp would be amenable to working out the particulars of a trade before the draft on the contingency that a team willing to trade for him wouldn't take a QB in the first round. The Falcons are willing to make Cousins the highest-paid backup in the league, but a trade still seems more likely to happen. The Browns are the most probably landing spot.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins has been the subject of multiple calls from or internal discussions by other teams in recent days, according to The Exhibit's Josina Anderson, who noted that her source said a team may be willing to offer a third-round pick to acquire Cousins.

Fantasy Spin: The likelihood is that at least two of the teams are the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns. As luck would have it, New York and Cleveland each have an extra third-round pick in next month's draft. Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are desperate to land a quarterback as they try to save their jobs, while the Browns could be a wonderful landing spot for Cousins if they can fix the offensive line issues that plagued them in 2024. The 36-year-old probably won't push for low-end fantasy QB1 production in either spot, but the Browns may have enough in place to give him a shot at being a strong QB2.

From TheHuddle

Dynasty | The Falcons kept Kirk Cousins past today's roster bonus deadline. Dynasty Analysis: The Falcons are clearly not willing to give Cousins away and are paying him another $10 million in order to possibly find a trade partner and get some draft capital as part of a trade. It's unlikely Cousins is on the roster on opening day, but it's clearly a possibility. Atlanta has proven they're willing to dig in on this one, despite everyone knowing Michael Penix is their starter next season. At this point, this looks like a story that's going to play out for a while, possibly beyond next month's NFL Draft.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins will remain on the roster today past 4 p.m. ET, solidifying his $10 million roster bonus for March of 2026. Pelissero also notes that if Cousins is eventually traded or released, Atlanta's obligation is subject to offsets. Cousins started 14 games for the Falcons in 2024, though he woefully underperformed -- racking up an 18:16 TD:INT ratio before getting benched for rookie signal-caller Michael Penix Jr. in Week 16. It's a strange move for the team, as it would seemingly behoove them more to trade the 36-year-old. Especially considering he's made it clear that he prefers to start rather than ride the bench. With that said, you can't fault Atlanta, as Cousins would be one of the more competent backups in the league.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins will officially be kept on the roster past 4 p.m. ET Saturday, March 15, triggering a guaranteed roster bonus of $10 million due in 2026, according to sources. He is still hoping to start in 2025, whether it be in Atlanta, or elsewhere.

Fantasy Spin: Cousins was benched with three games left in the season in favor of rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. He was the subject of trade speculation, but he remains in Atlanta. Wherever he lands, whether is it back in Atlanta, or with another organization, his days as a QB1 in fantasy leagues appear to be in the rear-view mirror. Target Cousins as a QB2 in fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams in 2025.

From TheHuddle

Dynasty | The Falcons are reportedly retaining Kirk Cousins past a $10 million roster bonus due date this weekend. Dynasty Analysis: In other words, Atlanta is eating some money in an attempt to create a trade market for Cousins. It's hard to believe they'd really keep him as the backup to Michael Penix next season. Stranger things have happened, but expect Atlanta to release Cousins at some point if no trade actually materializes in the coming weeks. If anything, they're being patient. Cousins' dynasty value is clearly in major flux at the moment, so stay tuned.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reports that the Atlanta Falcons don't intend to release quarterback Kirk Cousins. The 36-year-old, who signed a four-year $180 million deal with the Falcons last offseason, had a lackluster year while recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in 2023. With Cousins' inconsistent play deteriorating in the back half of the season, the team eventually turned to rookie gunslinger Michael Penix after a stretch of four weeks in which the veteran racked up eight interceptions and no touchdowns. It's worth noting that the Michigan State alum plans to continue his career in 2025, whether that is with the Falcons or not. However, a no-trade clause in his contract adds an extra layer of difficulty to the situation. Currently, it appears Cousins could spend his fourteenth season in the league in a backup role. He won't be on the fantasy radar if that's the case.

From RotoBaller

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that teams that have been interested in veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins around the league have been told that the Atlanta Falcons won't move him. Per SI.com's Albert Breer, Cousins asked for and was granted a meeting with owner Arthur Blank on Wednesday to discuss his future, according to sources. The 36-year-old wants to go somewhere where he can start in 2025, but Falcons brass has said they will do what's best for the team at the position. The Falcons have held firm on their stance that they are comfortable keeping Cousins as the most expensive backup in the league this year after he threw 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 2024 and was benched in favor of first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. It's hard to envision Cousins sticking around as a backup after signing a four-year, $180 million deal last year. He could request a trade after April's draft. Stay tuned.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is not expected to be released this offseason, according to sources.

From TheHuddle

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins makes the most sense for the Cleveland Browns to pursue this offseason, assuming the Falcons aren't serious about making him the most expensive backup in the league and eventually cut him, according to The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt. The main reason it makes sense is that head coach Kevin Stefanski was Cousins' QBs coach and offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings for a couple years. Cousins was benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. in 2024 after throwing 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, but it was his first year coming off an Achilles tear. The 36-year-old is in decline but would make for a perfect, cheap bridge signal-caller if the Browns take Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders with the No. 2 overall pick, or if they wait and take someone like Jalen Milroe later in the draft.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins met with owner Arthur Blank earlier in the week and indicated that he wants to be with a team where he has a chance to start in 2025, according to sources.

Fantasy Spin: The Falcons have said they are willing to keep Cousins on the roster, but they likely will be open to trading him if they receive a good offer. He struggled with interceptions before being benched this past season and finished with 16 interceptions in 14 games. He likely will be a No. 2 fantasy quarterback if he starts for a team next season.

From TheHuddle

ESPN's Dan Graziano writes that trading quarterback Kirk Cousins before March 17 is the best course of action for the Atlanta Falcons from a salary cap standpoint. However, it might be tough for the Falcons to find a trade partner willing to take on $27.5 million guaranteed in 2025 and $10 million next year after Cousins was benched after throwing 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 2024. The Falcons would absorb $37.5 million in dead money on their 2025 camp if they trade him. If they release him outright before March 17, they'd take on $65 million in dead money this year. If they release him before March 17 as a post-June 1 cut, they'd take on $40 million in dead money this year and $25 million in 2026. The 36-year-old didn't look great coming off a torn Achilles in 2023 and also dealt with a right-shoulder injury in 2024. It remains to be seen if a QB-needy team will be desperate enough to trade for Cousins.

From RotoBaller

The Atlanta Falcons are comfortable with keeping quarterback Kirk Cousins as a backup in 2025, according to general manager Terry Fontenot. If Atlanta keeps him on the roster to back up Michael Penix Jr., they will pay Cousins $27.5 million in 2025 while triggering $10 million in fully guaranteed money for 2026. Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal last March but was benched for Penix after throwing for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions in 14 games. As the offseason continues to unfold, whether or not Fontenot is serious about keeping Cousins on the roster will be uncovered.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins and Minnesota Vikings QB Daniel Jones could be options for the Cleveland Browns this offseason if they look to add a veteran quarterback, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Fantasy Spin: The Browns likely will be adding multiple quarterbacks to the roster this offseason, so fantasy players will need to monitor the situation to see who will be named the starter. The Browns starting quarterback probably will be a No. 2 quarterback in most leagues.

From TheHuddle

According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (shoulder) dealt with a shoulder injury during the back half of the 2024 season, which hindered his play. Cousins said that he suffered this injury following their Week 10 contest against the New Orleans Saints. The veteran said he "Got hit pretty good in my right shoulder and elbow, and from there, it was kind of something I was working through." Then, over the final three weeks, the team opted to bench Cousins in favor of rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Before this injury, Cousins performed quite well, averaging 263.4 passing yards per game with a 17:8 TD:INT ratio. However, over his final four contests, the 36-year-old averaged just 218.5 passing yards per game and threw just one score with eight interceptions. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the offseason as the team may look to find a trade partner, as Penix is viewed as their franchise option.

From RotoBaller