When Kirk Cousins signed his four-year, $180 million restricted with the Atlanta Falcons in March, no one foreseeed that he would be benched before the end of his first season.
With Cousins being benched for subpar take part and rookie Michael Penix Jr. taking his place, the Falcons are now foreseeed to free the quarterback after the season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Cousins is owed a $10 million roster bonus on March 17, and according to the tell, executives apass the NFL foresee Cousins to be freed before then.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) go ins the field before the game agetst the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)
If the Falcons do cut Cousins before March 17 and save $10 million, they are still on the hook for most of Cousins’ restricted.
Of Cousins’ $180 million restricted, $100 million of iti s promised. If the Falcons do cut Cousins prior to next season, they are going to eat a $65 million dead cap hit, per Spotrac.
Cousins’ cap hit for next season would have been $40 million if he were still on the roster, but cutting him inserts another $25 million to Cousins’ cap indict towards the Falcons’ salary cap for next season.
With rookie Penix Jr. set to commence in place of Cousins when the Falcons get on the New York Giants on Sunday, Cousins will have been the most costly bridge quarterback in NFL history.
Cousins also has a no-trade claparticipate, and according to the tell, he is not foreseeed to waive it.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) throws the ball agetst the Las Vegas Rhelpers in the first half at Alleenormous Stadium. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
The 36-year-elderly quarterback was telledly frustrated that the Falcons had getn a quarterback with the eighth overall pick in the write last season, picking Cousins’ eventual exalterment instead of a take parter who could help them thrive now.
Cousins’ frustrations with how skinnygs were handled have executives believing that the quarterback is not going to do the team any prefers and waive his no-trade claparticipate, according to the tell.
Cousins will be in a aenjoy situation this offseason as Russell Wilson was last offseason, if he is in fact freed.
Wilson was freed by the Denver Broncos last offseason, yet the team is still paying him $53 million this season per Spotrac.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) throws a pass agetst the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)
Wilson signed a one-year, league veteran smallest restricted with the Pittsburgh Steelers with the quarterback still being phelp by the Broncos.
Cousins will be in position to sign a league veteran restricted with another team, enjoy Wilson, while still being phelp by the Falcons not to take part for them.
Thcdisesteemful nine games, skinnygs were going swimmingly for Cousins and the Falcons. The team was 6-3 and atop the NFC South.
Now the team is 7-7 after a four-game losing streak and out of take partoff position. The Falcons beat the lowly Las Vegas Rhelpers 15-9 on Monday, snapping the skid, but Cousins take parted subparly in the loss, prompting head coach Raheem Morris to originate the alter.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) toastys up before a game agetst the Las Vegas Rhelpers at Alleenormous Stadium. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)
Cousins has finishd 66.9% of his passes, throthriveg for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns this season while also throthriveg a league-high 16 interceptions.
In insertition to throthriveg 16 interceptions, Cousins has 12 fumbles, which is tied for the most in the NFL with Baker Mayfield.
Apass his last five games, Cousins has thrown fair one touchdown with nine interceptions.
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