The Kirk Cousins saga continues, even after the Falcons were left with no choice but to keep him. Michael Penix Jr. is now expected to be the future in Atlanta. But just a season ago, Cousins was brought in to be the solution for the next several years.
Penix enters the NFL as one of the most exciting young quarterbacks. That excitement is warranted—if his professional career mirrors his last two college seasons, he’s poised for success. His college performance was so impressive that he was dubbed the best transfer in the history of the portal.
With Penix expected to start, Cousins has reportedly been seeking a way out—via trade or otherwise. However, when the Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers, it effectively ended any realistic exit strategy.
“With Rodgers going to the Steelers, Cousins is left without a viable destination to satisfy his goal of being a starting quarterback in 2025. Thus, Cousins will be forced to play the waiting game — perhaps until training camp, the preseason or into the regular season — and monitor the health of quarterbacks around the NFL,” Sports Illustrated’s Daniel Flick wrote.
Rodgers’ signing has made it nearly impossible for Atlanta to move Cousins and his hefty contract. Meanwhile, the Falcons face a brutal start to the season, which could stir tension in the locker 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.”
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If Penix stumbles out of the gate and Cousins looks sharp, Atlanta could find itself in yet another high-stakes quarterback dilemma. The hope is that Penix develops into the star the Falcons envision—but if he doesn’t, a difficult situation could get even messier.
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