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After Previous Trade Request, Kirk Cousins Breaks Silence On Falcons Future

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 23: Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to an NFL preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 23, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Kirk Cousins addressed his future with the Atlanta Falcons after months of speculation on the first day of the team’s mandatory minicamp.

Cousins, who enters the second year of his four-year, $180 million contract, requested a trade earlier this offseason after he lost his starting job to then-rookie Michael Penix Jr. during the final three weeks of the 2024 season. But with minicamp underway, training camp is roughly six weeks away, and with just every other starting quarterback vacancy already filled, Cousins appears to be resigned to the fact that he will likely remain with the Falcons for the upcoming season.

“We’re moving forward,” Cousins said, “and it’s about how we as a team and as a quarterback room can be the best we can be in 2025.”

There is still a chance that Cousins gets traded at some point, especially if one of the NFL’s other 31 teams suffers a season-ending injury to their starting quarterback. But based on what Cousins said Tuesday, it appears that he is no longer advocating for a trade. If a trade occurs now, it appears that it would have to be initiated by the Falcons, who at that point would then have to find a capable backup for Penix. Cousins would also have to sign off on any possible trade, as his contract includes a no-trade clause.

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While Penix showed promise during the final weeks of the 2024 season, the former first-round pick still finished with an underwhelming 58.1% completion percentage while throwing as many interceptions as touchdown passes (three). Penix’s lack of experience is surely a reason why the Falcons reportedly drove a hard bargain when teams called inquiring about Cousins earlier this offseason. While he may not be the team’s starter, Cousins still has value as an overly qualified backup.

As he said on Tuesday, Cousins is preparing to move ahead with Atlanta, but rest assured that talks regarding his future with the Falcons are far from over, especially with training camp and the start of the regular season.