The Atlanta Falcons plan to cut veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins before the new league year begins in March, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. Releasing Cousins would make him a free agent and let him decide whether and where to play in 2026; he’ll be 38 entering next season and is preparing for his 14th NFL year after four Pro Bowl selections.
Cousins spent his first six NFL seasons in Washington, then six with the Minnesota Vikings (2018–2023) before signing a four-year, $180 million deal with Atlanta in 2024. Atlanta recently reworked that contract to create cap space and give Cousins more flexibility in his career, according to ESPN. His 2026 base salary was reportedly reduced from $35 million to $2.1 million, with the $32.9 million difference pushed into his 2027 base pay. If he remains on the Falcons’ roster when the league year starts in mid-March, his 2027 base (reported around $67.9 million) would become guaranteed; cutting him after June 1 would let the team spread the dead-cap hit between 2026 and 2027.
Cousins joined Atlanta recovering from an Achilles tear that ended his 2023 season. He attempted a Week 1 return but battled shoulder and elbow problems, was benched for 14 games, and was temporarily replaced by rookie Michael Penix Jr.—the Falcons’ No. 8 overall pick in 2024—who was given a three-game opportunity into 2025. Then-head coach Raheem Morris kept Penix as the starter in the offseason; although trade rumors swirled, Cousins stayed with Atlanta and ultimately started eight more games, including seven straight after Penix underwent ACL surgery. Cousins finished the season by winning the final four games and posting a 7:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio in that stretch.
Schefter added that Cousins hopes to keep playing in 2026 but is likely to have television opportunities as well—he appeared on CBS’s playoff pregame show. Meanwhile, the Falcons’ new front office and coaching structure—president of football operations Matt Ryan, GM Ian Cunningham and head coach Kevin Stefanski—have not made a firm commitment at quarterback for Penix’s future.
Fan Take: This matters because moving a veteran like Cousins reshapes the QB market and cap landscape, and it directly affects Atlanta’s plan for its young draft pick. For NFL fans, it signals how teams balance short-term wins with salary flexibility and highlights the increasing role of veteran QBs transitioning to media or backup roles late in their careers.
