Birdies releasing Kirko...
Confirmed today:
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Confirming previous reports, the Atlanta Falcons announced on Tuesday they will release Kirk Cousins.
Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham told reporters that after discussions with Cousins and Cousins' agent, the club will release the veteran quarterback on the first day of the new league year on March 11.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Feb. 7 that Cousins was expected to be released before the start of the new league year.
Making the move after the start of the league year, which Cunningham said the Falcons will do, allows the team to designate Cousins as a post-June 1 release if they choose to do so.
A post-June 1 designation would allow the Falcons to spread out his $35 million dead cap hit over the next two seasons, with $22.5 million going on their books in 2026. They will only save $2.1 million against the cap this year in that scenario, but they would lose $10.4 million in cap space if he were to be released prior to June 1.
Cousins and the Falcons restructured his contract in January to guarantee him $67.9 million in 2027 if he were to remain on the roster on March 13. The move did not impact any of the guaranteed money he was already owed.
When Cousins' release becomes official, he will join a very interesting crop of free-agent quarterbacks this offseason. Aaron Rodgers, Malik Willis, Daniel Jones and Russell Wilson are among the other notable names who will be available.
The group could also expand to include Kyler Murray and/or Tua Tagovailoa depending on whether or not their current teams decide to move in a different direction and can't find a trade partner.
Cousins, who will turn 38 on Aug. 19, started eight games for the Falcons in 2025. He threw for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 total appearances last season.
Bleacher Report
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Zanary wrote:
I repeat that the step up was usually toward abuse, as that's where our line was worst. I don't know a single QB that does well when A gap pressure is essentially guaranteed, and I've also never seen a team so unable to fix a problem for so many years.
At this point, I see Kirk as having incredible upside IF he can take the rank/money demotion. That said, I think a repaired Wentz with a full offseason could still be a great possibility, much better than Murray (who, I think, is essentially done) and Rogers (whose long ball arm seems also to be done, plus I never want to see him in purple). I don't see a huge move for Burrow or Jackson happening, and...yeah, the potential list of backups/"Challengers" is muddy at best.
Not usually....that implies failure more than success and as much as I bagged on GB, there wasn't that much failure in that front 3, fact is under KOC our OL has looked largely over matched and a fair bit of that is on the QB that can't move a pocket and a play designer that is looking to hurt teams deep/ intermediate before just keeping the chains moving. Trust me, if I could justify putting this on the IOL I would, but credit where credit is due also means blame where blame is due and KC never has done his OL any favors. Never.
Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?
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