The Atlanta Falcons have spent much of the summer on the phone, exploring potential trades involving players who aren’t expected to see significant playing time—barring injury.
However, trade talks surrounding Cousins have now gone cold. The veteran quarterback lost his last potential landing spot when the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers finally agreed to a deal. Pittsburgh was the final team with a realistic need for Cousins, and now Atlanta is stuck with his contract.
“That stinks for Cousins, and the Falcons may not be too thrilled about running out of trade options either. While Atlanta has said it is “comfortable” keeping Cousins around as its backup, general manager Terry Fontenot can’t be eager to hand out a $27.5 million salary to his QB2,” Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox wrote.
With Cousins staying put, the Falcons could face a dilemma in the quarterback room.
“If Penix struggles early — four of Atlanta’s first five games are against 2024 playoff teams and three of the team’s first six are in prime time — it could be tempting to go back to the veteran Cousins even after he disappointed last season,” wrote ESPN’s Dan Graziano. “It’s the main reason the Falcons should have worked harder to unload Cousins this offseason.”
While Cousins may not be moving, another name could be on the trade block: Tyler Allgeier. As Bijan Robinson’s backup, Allgeier is unlikely to re-sign with Atlanta after his contract expires at the end of this season.
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“If a team blows the Falcons away with an exceptional offer for Allgeier this offseason, then it makes sense for Atlanta to consider the move. The fourth-year running back does have a 1,000-yard season on his career resume. Last season, he averaged 4.7 yards per rush, and he will be an unrestricted free agent next season. The Falcons are unlikely to re-sign him since they could find a cheaper and/or young option for depth behind Robinson,” Sports Illustrated’s Dave Holcomb wrote.
Allgeier was a standout during his one season with a full workload, and a team in need of a dependable running back might see value in adding him to its roster.
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