The Atlanta Falcons have informed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and his agent, Mike McCarthy, that the team intends to release him at the start of the new NFL league year on March 11, according to the team’s newly appointed general manager, Drew Cunningham. This confirmation came during a local radio interview on the morning of February 24. The announcement aligns with earlier reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who had predicted the Falcons’ decision to part ways with Cousins.
Contract Modifications and Salary Details Influence the Decision
Cunningham indicated that after releasing Cousins, the Falcons have no plans to re-sign him at a lower salary. The two sides had recently agreed to restructure the final two years of Cousins’ contract, which affected how the team would evaluate his future. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, this modification set March 13 as a critical date for the Falcons to finalize their decision on the quarterback’s future with the franchise.
The Falcons and Kirk Cousins recently agreed to a modified final two years of his contract, setting March 13th up as a date to make a decision on the QB’s future with the franchise by,
Field Yates wrote on his X account.
The revised agreement includes a guaranteed payment of $67.9 million for the 2027 season that vests on March 13, which means a decision will likely be made before then to avoid complications with potential trades. The restructure also lowered Cousins’ 2026 base salary from a non-guaranteed $35 million to $2.1 million, redistributing his earnings but not affecting the guaranteed money due to him.
Kirk Cousins’ Performance and Recent Team Developments
Cousins signed a significant four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed in March 2024, shortly before the Falcons chose quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as their first-round draft pick. During Cousins’ first season, he recorded a 7-7 win-loss record but was bench-started in favor of Penix for the 2025 season. Penix started the season, posting a 3-6 record before suffering an ACL injury, which led to Cousins returning as the starter for the final eight games. In that stretch, Cousins performed decently with a 5-3 record, throwing for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions on 166 completions out of 269 attempts.
Implications of the Release and What Lies Ahead
The Falcons’ choice to release Kirk Cousins signals a shift in their quarterback strategy and roster management moving forward. This move frees salary cap space and opens opportunities for younger players like Michael Penix Jr. to take the helm full time. It also suggests that the Falcons are seeking a fresh direction at the position for upcoming seasons. With the guaranteed sums and contract clauses influencing both the Falcons’ and Cousins’ next steps, the final decision’s timing will be crucial in shaping how both parties approach the 2026 and 2027 campaigns.
