Kirk Cousins was one of the biggest signings of the 2024 NFL offseason, inking a four-year, $180 million deal ($100 million guaranteed) with the Atlanta Falcons. Little did anybody know that Cousins would be one of two quarterbacks that the Falcons would add that offseason, as they later selected Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Would Cousins, who previously started six seasons for the Minnesota Vikings (2018-23), have stayed in the Midwest if he knew the Falcons were using a top-10 pick on a quarterback?
“Certainly, if I had the information around free agency, it certainly would’ve affected my decision,” Cousins said about his decision to sign with the Falcons on an episode of Netflix’s “Quarterback,” which premiered its second season Tuesday.
“I had no reason to leave Minnesota with how much we loved it there if both teams are going to be drafting a quarterback high,” Cousins said. “But I’ve also learned in 12 years in this league that you’re not entitled to anything. It’s all about being able to earn your spot and prove yourself.”
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Cousins’ 2023 campaign ended after eight games due to a torn Achilles tendon, which was part of the reason why Minnesota didn’t re-sign him. Instead, the Vikings signed former No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold to a one-year deal and traded up one spot to select Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Cousins said that the Vikings were only open to retaining Cousins on a “year-to-year” basis, whereas the Falcons were more willing to make a long-term commitment.
Darnold proceeded to have a career year, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns and earning a Pro Bowl nod in a 14-win season for the Vikings. But after losing in the NFC wild-card round, Minnesota let Darnold walk to the Seattle Seahawks in free agency and is rolling with McCarthy as its 2025 starting quarterback.
Meanwhile, after starting last season 6-3 and sweeping the season series against the NFC South rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cousins and the Falcons lost four consecutive games. The quarterback had a rough, five-game stretch that led to him getting benched for Penix, who started the final three games of the season. In Atlanta’s Week 10 defeat to the New Orleans Saints, the first loss of that four-game skid, Cousins suffered a right shoulder and elbow injury but played through it.
Speaking about playing through the injury, Cousins, who will be 37 at the start of next season, said that once you take a seat, “you may never get your job back.”
Over said stretch, Cousins totaled 1,180 passing yards, one passing touchdown, nine interceptions and a 63.8 passer rating, while completing 62.7% of his passes. In all, Cousins totaled 3,508 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns, an NFL-high 16 interceptions and an 88.6 passer rating over 14 regular-season starts, while completing 66.9% of his passes. The Falcons missed the playoffs.
“It hurts to go into work, but you got to be an adult,” Cousins said about being benched for Penix. “You’ve got to be a grown man and handle it with maturity. I feel sorry for myself and it’s hard to do, but that’s what you got to do. And so that’s kind of where my focus went.”
Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler, remains on Atlanta’s roster and is currently the team’s backup at quarterback behind Penix.
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