The Atlanta Falcons have a backup quarterback conundrum, with Kirk Cousins set to collect a $10 million roster bonus on March 17. The number comes in addition to a dead cap hit of $65 million to release him outright or $40 million to designate him as a post-June 1 release.
Logically, the best choice for the Falcons would be an attempt at trading Cousins and as much of his contract as possible, but what would that take? Audacy's NFL insider, Jason La Canfora, joined The Steakhouse to discuss that point.
“Do you believe a trade materializes?” Mark Zinno asked La Canfora. “How does this all play out? Is Kirk Cousins on the Falcons roster come Week 1 next year?”
“No way in hell,” La Canfora said about the future of Cousins in Atlanta. “No, it’s not going to happen, and for a multitude of reasons.”
The deal grows a bit more complicated because of Cousins’ no-trade clause. As a result, he is going to play a significant role in the trade process and will have the final say in where he inevitably ends up.
“I don’t believe he’s in any rush to sort this out," La Canfora said. "I think [the Cousins camp] is going to look at situations and they’re going to look at getting him back with an established play-caller who understands his strengths and that’s how they’re going to rehabilitate his career.”
La Canfora believes the move is inevitable, but the only hindering factor is the schematic fit of the team he goes to. Cousins needs a classic, drop-back offense who will get him back under center.
“Does that situation emerge?” he asked rhetorically. “From [Cousins’] standpoint, that doesn’t have to happen now. It could happen if some quarterback gets hurt on the third day of OTAs.”
The Falcons may not be as keen to find the perfect fit for him and would prefer to get this deal done quickly.
“Now, if you’re the Falcons,” La Canfora started. “You would love to get him out of the building and eradicate this Day 1 and just throw everything around Penix. But because of the structure they gave him and because of the job his agent did, they can’t just do that willy-nilly.
“Yeah, it’s going to be somewhat complicated and they’re going to have to eat money to get him out of there. And they’re going to have to be willing to send him somewhere he wants to go, because again he’s got the no-trade, but I do believe it absolutely gets done.”