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Report: Atlanta Falcons keeping Kirk Cousins, trigger guaranteed $10 million roster bonus

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•03/15/25•

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The Atlanta Falcons will officially keep Kirk Cousins on the roster past 4 p.m. ET Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Despite being benched last season, the veteran QB will remain in Atlanta, presumably, behind Michael Penix Jr. for now.

“Sources: The Falcons officially will be keeping QB Kirk Cousins on their roster past 4 PM eastern today, triggering a guarantee on a $10M roster bonus that is due in 2026, sources told ESPN’s Field Yates and me,” Schefter wrote on Twitter.

Schefter previously reported it would be a “surprise” if Cousins was on the team in 2025. So far, it’s looking like he’ll be with the team since the Falcons now owe him a roster bonus next calendar year.

Still, Cousins could be cut eventually despite the financial implications or traded. But with QB needy teams finding their guys in free agency or potentially the draft, his options look slim as of this moment.

The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract last year. He got off to a strong start in 2024, leading the team to a 6-3 record after nine games. But Cousins then lost the next four starts before leading the Falcons to an unimpressive 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

In those five games, Cousins threw one touchdown and nine interceptions, leading to the Falcons benching him and going with Penix Jr. s their starting QB. The rookie from Washington impressed and nearly led the team to the playoffs.

“He’s got a no-trade clause. He could veto every trade,” Schefter explained of Cousins’ situation back in February. “I think the Falcons are going to have to release him. If and when he is released, you would hope it would be sooner rather than later, while there are quarterback chairs. They don’t owe him anything, but they could do it later and then he doesn’t have an ideal landing spot.

“The sooner they let him go, the more options he would have. The Falcons already are paying his salary. A team like the Browns makes sense because they’ve got other financial commitments and obligations. He’s got a relationship with Kevin Stefanski.”