KirkCousins

News: 4 days agoCousins is expected to be cut by the Falcons before his $10 million roster bonus is due March 17, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.

Spin: Cousins has been demoted to the backup role behind rookie first-round pick Michael Penix ahead of Atlanta's Week 16 game against the Giants. The veteran quarterback lost his starting role after posting a 1:9 TD:INT in his last five starts. Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons prior to the 2024 season, but Atlanta appears ready to move forward with Penix while eating the remainder of Cousins' $100 million guarantee.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Cousins signed with the Falcons in March and gives Atlanta some hope after the failed Desmond Ridder experiment of 2023. Cousins got off to a hot start in Minnesota last season, racking up 2,331 passing yards and 18 touchdowns (and just five interceptions) through eight games, but succumbed to a torn Achilles that ended his season at the midpoint. He'll have no shortage of targets to work with in RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London and underused TE Kyle Pitts, but his lack of mobility is always a concern. While he's expected to give the Atlanta offense a boost, the 35-year-old pocket passer is a solid QB2 with a ceiling of a fringe QB1.