Kirk Cousins left the Minnesota Vikings because he wanted to retire with the Atlanta Falcons. While there were also 180 million reasons that went into that decision, it could happen only because the Falcons have buyer's remorse on their franchise quarterback and are reportedly benching him in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr.
The decision comes via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who says Penix will get the start in Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. While Cousins led Atlanta to a victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night, he didn’t look great completing 11-of-17 passes for 112 yards with a touchdown and an interception and getting a lukewarm vote of confidence from Falcons coach Raheem Morris during his Tuesday morning press conference.
“We just got back , man. We’ve still got to go through all that process like we always do. Obviously getting back , getting a big-time win. …There’s no secret. We didn’t play well enough the quarterback position, and we got to find ways to play better.”
Kirk Cousins hasn’t been the answer to the Atlanta Falcons quarterback woes
Cousins was supposed to be a solution for what was a black hole for quarterbacks in recent years. Matt Ryan held the franchise mantle for Atlanta for 14 seasons after he was the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft but his departure in 2022 led the Falcons down a dark path featuring Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke over the past two years.
At the same time, Cousins’ stranglehold on the Vikings’ payroll was loosening. A torn Achilles in an October 2023 game against the Green Bay Packers turned out to be his last snap in Minnesota and when the Falcons offered a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed, Cousins cashed out intending to retire a Falcon.
But the Falcons selected Penix with the eighth overall pick in last April’s draft and Cousins had the rookie over his shoulder as he began the season. While Cousins led Atlanta to a 6-3 start, his play had deteriorated throwing for 1,180 yards, one touchdown and nine interceptions in the last five games.
The Minnesota Vikings made the right choice to move on from Cousins
Cousins’s downward spiral has sent the Falcons out of first place in the NFC South and has their playoff chances down to just 24 percent according to The Athletic’s playoff machine. While Penix is the future of the franchise, the decision to use a top-ten pick represents a mismanagement of resources compared to how the Vikings have turned out.
Minnesota signed Sam Darnold to a one-year contract worth $10 million last spring. The 27-year-old has had a career season, throwing for 3,530 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions and leading the Vikings to a 12-2 record.
With an estimated $76.4 million in cap space next season according to Over The Cap, the Vikings could use that money to fill the holes on their roster or even bring back Darnold if his play warrants it down the stretch. It’s a more favorable situation than the Falcons, who have Penix on his rookie deal but also have Cousins on the books with a $40 million cap number this season.
It’s not how Cousins or the Falcons expected this to go when they overpaid last spring. But it could give Cousins the opportunity he wanted to retire as a Falcon.