As the 2025 NFL owners’ meetings are now underway and team owners, general managers and head coaches make their media rounds, Atlanta Falcons coach, Raheem Morris made it clear he does not anticipate Kirk Cousins being in attendance for the team’s voluntary organized team activities, which have yet to be announced.
And while Morris expressed the Falcons would “welcome him with open arms,” he explained the team is handling their current relationship with Cousins, who has expressed his desire to be traded to a team in which he will have an opportunity start, with a “businesslike” mindset and rightfully so as the veteran quarterback recently said he would not be waiving his no-trade clause until after the upcoming draft.
“This is a leverage situation,” Steak Shapiro said on Tuesday as he and Sandra Golden shared their thoughts on Morris’ comments in regards to Cousins and his trade request, noting the list of potential landing spots for the veteran signal caller has been shortened with the Jets signing of Justin Fields and the Giants bringing in Russell Wilson, leaving the Browns and Vikings, along with the Steelers, who are currently the favorite to land Aaron Rogers as possible destinations
“The Kirk Cousins thing has to take care of itself and you’re paying him anyway, so he’d be the best backup quarterback in the NFL,” Shapiro continued as he and Golden agreed that while ideally, they believe the relationship between the Falcons and Cousins is likely unrepairable following his comments in February admitting he indeed was injured against the Saints back in November, Morris and company “are going to do what’s best for the Falcons,” whether it be via trade or retaining Cousins.
“The Falcons obviously trying to get a little bit of money, certainly a draft pick and their going to say, having him in that quarterback room is not ideal, but if you think we’re just going to let it happen and have to pay another backup and get nothing, that’s not happening either. Be a big boy, be in that quarterback room and be Michael Penix Jr.’s backup,” Shapiro said as to how he believes the Falcons will handle the situation.