The Las Vegas Raiders have signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. 

Cousins will sign a five-year, $172 million contract. The Raiders are expected to draft Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Cousins previously signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. He was released earlier this offseason to clear cap space.

Although his new contract may seem big, there’s important context to add. 2026 is the only guaranteed season. He will make a guaranteed $20 million in 2026. 2027 and 2028 come with team options. If the Raiders decline these options, the contract automatically voids. The final two seasons are void years. The contract gives the Raiders a lot of cap flexibility going forward.

Cousins served as the Falcons’ backup last season. Despite this, he still got to start eight games in 2025 because starter Michael Penix Jr. was hurt. Cousins led the Falcons to a 5-3 record in his starts with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. The Falcons finished the season on a four-game winning streak with Cousins starting.

Despite playing well, Cousins’s contract was too large to keep paying him. The Raiders get a reliable QB to mentor Mendoza.

Since Patrick Mahomes sat on the bench in his rookie season, it’s become more common for teams to keep their first-round QBs on the bench for most of their rookie season. With Cousins, the Raiders get a reliable starter. He’ll likely be an upgrade over Geno Smith, who led the league in interceptions in 2025. 

On top of that, Cousins also has experience with the new Raiders head coach, Klint Kubiak. They worked together with the Minnesota Vikings. Kubiak was the QB coach in 2019-2020 and the offensive coordinator in 2021. Cousins made two of his four career Pro Bowl appearances with Kubiak as a coach. 

Kirk Cousins‘ tenure with the Atlanta Falcons is coming to an end as the veteran quarterback is expected to be released when the free-agent signing period begins in March.

Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham announced the news on Tuesday during a local radio interview, adding that he has already informed Cousins and his agent of the decision.

Cousins, 37, was the team’s backup quarterback to begin the year last season but took over as the starter when second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a season-ending injury. In his time as the starter, Cousins threw for 1,471 yards and 10 touchdowns, showing his tank isn’t empty just yet.

The Falcons went 5-2 with Cousins, missing the playoffs by one game.

Cousins will have plenty of suitors who are looking for a veteran quarterback to provide stability or as a backup quarterback for a team that already has a younger quarterback.

The Falcons signed Cousins in 2024 after he tore his Achilles tendon the previous season with the Vikings. After signing Cousins, the Falcons drafted Penix with their first-round pick, causing confusion about why they had signed Cousins. Cousins was later benched that season in favor of the rookie after struggling in the new system.

Cousins will be heading into his 13th season in the NFL and has put together a career to be proud of, totaling just under 45,000 passing yards and throwing 298 touchdowns.

It is yet to be seen what teams will show interest in Cousins, but his strong finish to the 2025 season showed teams he still has some juice in his arm.

The Atlanta Falcons may be looking for a new head coach and general manager, but they plan to keep a familiar face in the quarterback room.

The Falcons and Kirk Cousins have agreed to restructure the final two years of his contract. He was signed to a four-year, $180 million contract in the 2024 offseason. His base salary in 2026 has been drastically reduced to $2.1 million. This won’t affect his signing and roster bonus. In 2027, his base salary balloons to $67.9 million. However, if he’s released after the 2026 season, they will only owe him $12.5 million. If they released him this offseason, he’ll be owed $35 million. 

The 2024 season got off to a good start for Cousins. He threw 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions and led the Falcons to a 5-3 record. In the next six games, he threw four touchdowns and nine interceptions and had a 2-4 record. He was benched for rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. 

Cousins spent most of the first half of 2025 on the bench. However, he became the starter in Week 11 after Penix Jr. partially tore his ACL. Cousins led the Falcons to a 5-3 record and had 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. His best game was a 29-28 victory against the Buccaneers, where he threw 3 touchdowns. He threw two interceptions and no touchdowns against the Seahawks, but very few QBs fared well against that defense. 

The Falcons won five of their eight games with Cousins at the QB spot. Outside of a three-touchdown game against the Patriots, Penix Jr. looked extremely underwhelming. The second half of the season showed the Falcons have the pieces to compete. Will they start the veteran Cousins to try and make the playoffs for the first time since 2017? 

Atlanta Falcons backup quarterback Kirk Cousins replaced starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

Cousins replaced Penix Jr. in the fourth quarter with 10:44 left on the clock.

The Falcons were down 27-0 when Cousins replaced Penix Jr., making this his first appearance of the season.

Cousins was 5-of-7 for 29 yards after entering the game. He accumulated a total of 29 yards.

Penix Jr. had 18-of-36 for 172 yards with two interceptions. He made 18 complete attempts out of 36, accumulating 172 yards.

Head coach Raheem Morris made it clear that there is competition between Cousins and Penix Jr.

Morris said that he pulled Penix Jr. because the game was “out of hand” and he needed to “keep our guys out of harm’s way.”

The Falcons lost 30-0 anyway.

The Falcons’ next game is scheduled for Sunday against the Washington Commanders. The Falcons announced that Penix Jr. will remain as their starter.

Kirk Cousins said he might have re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings last offseason had he known the Atlanta Falcons would draft a quarterback in the first round.

For the first time publicly, the veteran opened up on his feelings about the Falcons taking Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft in an episode of the Netflix series Quarterback, which premiered Tuesday.

Cousins said he felt “a little misled” when the Falcons took Penix that high. The Falcons had signed Cousins to a contract worth at least $100 million guaranteed just a few weeks earlier, tabbing him as their quarterback for 2024 and beyond. The Falcons stunned the NFL – and Cousins – by drafting Penix, because the franchise believed in him as a future franchise quarterback.

Cousins said he was aware that the Falcons might draft a quarterback, but he definitely did not expect it to be that high. He wasn’t informed about the Penix pick until the phone call from the offensive coordinator, Zac Robinson, while the Falcons were on the clock.

“Certainly, if I had the information around free agency, it certainly would’ve affected my decision,” Cousins said on the first episode of the season. “I had no reason to leave Minnesota with how much we loved it there if both teams are going to be drafting a quarterback high. But I’ve also learned in 12 years in this league that you’re not entitled to anything. It’s all about being able to earn your spot and prove yourself.”

The Vikings, who did extend an offer to Cousins last offseason, drafted quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the 10th pick in the 2024 draft.

Cousins led the Falcons to a 6-3 start last season before taking a hard hit to his right arm from New Orleans Saints defensive end Payton Turner in Week 10. Cousins said that he knew something was wrong immediately and then later felt pain in his shoulder.

The Falcons’ season took a sharp downward turn beginning with that game. The Falcons lost four straight, with Cousins throwing eight interceptions and no touchdown passes during that stretch, the worst of his 13-year career.

Cousins said at mandatory minicamp last month that he realized after the season ended that he had been more injured than initially thought. At the time, he said, it felt like just more pain he had to work through, like so many bumps and bruises in the past.

Cousins appeared on the Falcons’ injury report only once after the hit, in Week 11. After that game, a loss to the Denver Broncos, Cousins claimed he was 100 percent.

Cousins admitted he didn’t want to sit and rest the arm, giving way to Penix, because he wasn’t sure if he’d get his job back.

“The information I had at the time, I made the best decision,” Cousins said. “You also know that if you sit down [in] Week 10 and take two or three weeks or more to let it heal, you may never get your job back. I remember reading Drew Brees‘ book back in 2010 when he first wrote it, how he made the point that he tried to never let his backup see the field – even if it was somebody who was really no threat. He just felt like you should never do that. Doug Flutie taught him that. So that was something I was aware of, that in this league, if you give someone else the chance, if you want to get ‘Wally Pipped’ and there’s Lou Gehrig behind you, that can happen at the time.”

The Falcons did eventually bench Cousins in Week 16. Penix took over and played solidly, though the team went 1-2 in those games and missed the playoffs.

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.

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.

The Atlanta Falcons have said they don’t have to trade Kirk Cousins. However, after just one season with the team in which he was benched for rookie Michael Penix Jr., a trade seems to be the most logical course of action.

The Falcons have privately had trade discussions with multiple teams. Atlanta has been asking teams to pay for $20 million of his $45 million guarantees. No team to this point has been willing.

Cousins signed a 4-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons in free agency last season. It was the largest contract signed in the free agency period. That’s a lot for any player, especially one who isn’t even starting.

There are some teams that could be in play for Cousins. The Cleveland Browns are viewed as the favorite to draft Cousins. ESPN reported that the Minnesota Vikings could be willing to reunite with Cousins for an asking price of $10 million instead of $20 million.

After signing Cousins to the massive contract last season, the Falcons drafted Penix with the eighth overall pick. Ideally, a trade would occur for Cousins following the draft so as not to get blindsided again. Trade partners for the Falcons will also become clearer if teams in the quarterback market target the position.

Cousins, despite a disappointing season overall, showed some flashes of why he was rewarded in free agency with a massive contract.

Cousins threw for 500 yards and four touchdowns on Thursday Night Football. He had two straight games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys, where he combined for seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

If Cousins can get back to playing at a high level, a quarterback-needy team could find a starter for the foreseeable future.

The Atlanta Falcons announced Tuesday that rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. would start the team’s next game against the New York Giants. That news comes in the wake of a four-game losing skid followed by a six-point win over the struggling Raiders in which Kirk Cousins tossed just one touchdown – and nine interceptions.

Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons this past offseason. With the starting position seemingly filled for the mid-term, it was the shock of the NFL Draft when the team took Penix with the eighth pick.

Penix had a breakout year in the 2023-24 college football season, leading the Washington Huskies to the national championship game with 4,903 yards and 36 touchdowns. Much concern about the pick, however, stemmed from his age – Penix is now 24 years old – and the injuries that kept him sidelined for the beginning of his college football career.

Now, he’ll start a Week 16 NFL game for a fringe playoff contender.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris made the call after the team’s narrow win over the Raiders in which Cousins attempted just 17 passes. Later, speaking to reporters, he cited Cousins’ turnovers – he leads the NFL in both interceptions (16) and fumbles (12, tied with Baker Mayfield).

“It’s pro football, and there’s a standard that I have for myself, that the team has for me, that, unfortunately, I wasn’t playing up to that standard consistently enough,” Cousins said, discussing his benching. “And so, it is what it is, and you roll with it and now you still get ready – ‘one play away’ kind of a thing – and support [Penix] and just try to help our team be able to find a way to win these last three to get in the playoffs, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Morris said that Cousins told him he would be the “best No. 2 quarterback in the National Football League.”

Penix voiced his own excitement to start, but made sure to credit Cousins with his mentorship and leadership of the team. “The way he processes, the way he speaks to the team – in meetings, on the field – you know, just the command he has…I was in the huddle today and walk-throughs, and I just remembered some of the stuff he did and the way he said it, you know, because I – I look up to Kirk.”

The Falcons are 7-7 and in second place in the NFC South, behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A hot start has made sure that they’ve stayed on the fringes of the playoff bubble despite their recent struggles.

In Week 16, though, time is running out. All the Falcons can do is cross their fingers and hope that their first-round gamble worked out.

Atlanta has suffered three consecutive 7-10 campaigns, which have caused them to miss the postseason. At one point, 2023 seemed promising, as the Falcons got off to a 2-0 start, propelling them to a 4-3 record after week seven. Atlanta sat at the top of the NFC South at 6-6 following their week 13 win over the Jets.

Struggles caught up, and the Falcons lost four of the last five to fall to third place in the division. Coach Arthur Smith was relieved of his duties following the season’s end. Desmond Ridder started in 13 games, throwing over 3,500 yards while tossing 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Raheem Morris returned for a second stint after being hired as the next head coach. Morris served as the team’s defensive backs coach in 2019 and defensive coordinator in 2020.

Ex-Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins joined the Falcons for four seasons since there was uncertainty at the quarterback position. Cousins is a proven veteran who can help Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson play to their potential. Atlanta made several under-the-radar moves in securing Ray-Ray McCloud III, Charlie Woerner and Darnell Mooney. In addition, the Falcons signed Kevin King and Antonio Hamilton to bolster the defensive backroom.

Despite signing Cousins, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. was picked eighth overall in a shocking move. Penix was 2024’s sixth-ranked quarterback and will succeed Cousins after his contract expires. In rounds two and three, Atlanta picked to fill defensive needs; they chose Ruke Orhorhoro and Bralen Trice.

Atlanta has one of the NFL’s manageable schedules. The slate is headlined by teams such as the Eagles, Chiefs, Seahawks, Cowboys and Chargers. Arthur Smith comes back to town in week one, as the Falcons will square off against the Steelers. Cousins will see two familiar stadiums he has played in: U.S. Bank Stadium and Commanders Field (formerly FedEx Field). Atlanta will play the Vikings and Commanders in those games.

With a new coach present, Atlanta will likely climb out of mediocrity since they have the offensive talent to win them games.

ATLANTA FALCONS SCHEDULE & TICKETS

The New England Patriots agreed to a trade with the Atlanta Falcons Wednesday, sending star linebacker Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round pick. While the Falcons add a key defender to an already exciting roster, the Patriots seem increasingly focused on a rebuild.

Judon and the Patriots have been at odds for weeks as the pass rusher prepares for the final season of his four-year, $54.5 million contract. While the team hesitated to extend him, Judon reportedly refused to participate in pads-on practice, instead watching from the sidelines.

In 2021 and 2022, Judon earned a combined 29 sacks and 120 tackles, proving to be a leader on a highly respected Patriots defense. Though he spent most of his 2023 season on the sidelines with a torn bicep, the 32-year-old clearly still believes he deserves to be paid like a star.

Despite trading for Judon in the midst of a contract dispute, Atlanta has reportedly waited for the eight-year veteran to join the team before ironing out its own extension details. This has already proven problematic for other teams this summer, as the Jets are currently having serious issues with newly acquired defender Haason Reddick, who has already demanded a trade since the team acquired him from the Eagles in April.

While he seeks a new deal, Judon could cause all sorts of problems for the Falcons, from declining a mandatory physical to a continued holdout from practices and preseason games.

For the Patriots, a veteran like Judon likely didn’t mesh well with the team’s aims to rebuild, which could explain the disagreement on future payment. While this may make sense for the team long-term, it also puts the defense in a precarious position for the coming season. Expectations were already low for the new-look Patriots, featuring new head coach Jerod Mayo and rookie quarterback Drake Maye, but several young defensive players may have benefitted from playing with Judon, a four-time Pro-Bowler.

As for the Falcons, who seem to be focused on immediate success after acquiring quarterback Kirk Cousins, adding a player like Judon could answer a years-long question for the team at the linebacker position. The defense will likely be the weak link on a team with such a dynamic offense, so a veteran presence could be extremely valuable if the two sides can reach an agreement in the preseason.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Rondale Moore was carted off the field Wednesday after suffering a right leg injury, causing the team to end practice early. Moore was taken away in an air cast, indicating that the injury is serious.

Immediately following the incident that led to Moore’s injury, players dropped to a knee in support of their teammate. Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins reiterated later on that the team was praying for him to recover quickly.

Moore is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and was preparing for his first season with the Falcons. He has spent the last three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, where was primarily used in a supporting role. In 33 games, he has caught 135 passes for 1,201 yards and three touchdowns.

The Falcons acquired the fourth-year receiver from Arizona in a trade, sending away quarterback Desmond Ridder. The team has completely overhauled its offense in the offseason, hiring a new coaching staff and signing Cousins, a star passer from the Vikings.

Moore and fellow newly acquired receivers Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud were expected to join as role players in the offense behind the likes of Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts and Drake London. When he was acquired from Arizona, it appeared as though Moore, an underrated but respected receiver, would be joining one of the league’s most exciting offenses in the coming season, which could have changed the course of his career. In all likelihood, those prospects will at least be delayed based on the initial circumstances and timing of his injury.

If Moore has to miss significant time this season, Mooney and McCloud will likely gain more targets as secondary receiving options in the offense. Backup receivers KhaDarel Hodge, Austin Mack and Casey Washington could also get more preseason reps and carve out a role as well.

Most analysts and fans couldn’t imagine Atlanta taking a quarterback in the first round, let alone a prospect that most mock projections didn’t have as a top-10 pick. But that is what unfolded on the first day of the draft.

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. from Washington was the surprise of the draft, being taken by the Falcons in the first round. Penix is coming off a prolific season for the Huskies, throwing for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns and completing 65.4% of his passes. His team had a surprising postseason run that finished in the national championship, where they fell to the Michigan Wolverines 34-13.

According to ESPN, Cousins was unaware that Atlanta would take a quarterback with the eighth pick. Individuals close to Cousins were frustrated that the front office did not use the high pick to improve other areas on the roster.

New Falcons coach Raheem Morris expressed disappointment with the draft controversy at his post-draft press conference. “I hate for it to be like the story of the draft. I know it will be. That’s just how our world is based and driven,” Morris said. “It’s what people want to see—it’s piqued more interest.”

Although the pick was shocking, considering Cousins is expected to play very well for the team in 2024, there are some concerns about his health. He is coming off a significant injury he sustained in a game with the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 29, a torn Achilles, which ended his season. He also turns 36 in August, so age and recent injury are valid concerns. It could be the reason for the selection of Penix, to ensure that if something were to happen to Cousins again, a viable backup option would be available. 

The Falcons are coming off a 7-10 campaign in which many expected them to win the weak NFC South. With Cousins, wide receiver Drake London, running back Bijan Robinson, and an underrated defense, Atlanta is again expected to take the next step and make the postseason in 2024.

Penix said he had already spoken to Cousins, and both men were moving on from any draft controversies or conspiracies.

“I’m going to keep it just between me and him right now. It was definitely a good conversation,” Penix told reporters on Friday. I’m super excited to work with him, and he said he’s the same with me.”

At his introductory press conference Wednesday evening, new Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins said that he was looking for a team on the rise in free agency. He believes that he’s found one. Despite the Falcons’ turbulent 2023 season, improvement at the quarterback position could transform the team from an also-ran into a legitimate contender in the NFC.

“I think in Minnesota it was trending over the last couple offseasons to being somewhat year-to-year,” Cousins said at the press conference. “And as we talked with Atlanta, it felt like this was a place where, if I play at the level I expect to play, that I can retire a Falcon.”

In recent years, the Falcons have developed a reputation for underutilizing young talent. The team drafted running back Bijan Robinson with the eighth overall pick last summer, only to place him in a suffocating timeshare with backup Tyler Allgeier. Star tight end Kyle Pitts had a breakout rookie season in 2021 but has since floundered on a stagnant offense. Wide receiver Drake London has struggled alongside him in the last two seasons.

With all this talent squandered thus far, many have split the blame between two parties: former head coach Arthur Smith and a revolving door of quarterbacks that most recently included Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinecke.

Smith was repeatedly accused of using Robinson and Pitts as decoys instead of assets. This led to increased production from the likes of Allgeier and veteran tight end Jonnu Smith, but it simply did not prove effective. Smith went 7-10 in all three of his seasons for Atlanta and was fired earlier this year.

The Falcons’ quarterback issue is more difficult to break down but largely came down to a lack of consistent play. Ridder, the team’s starter since the end of 2022, has been effective on the ground but has not produced enough through the air, ending the 2023 season with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Heinecke, his backup, proved capable for the Commanders in 2022 but did not make a significant impact in his limited playing time in Atlanta.

After three straight seven-win seasons, the Falcons’ front office took dramatic steps to fix both problems in the span of a few weeks. Cousins is a pre-built franchise quarterback on a new four-year, $180 million deal and Raheem Morris has been hired to replace Smith as head coach.

Both men have success elsewhere. Morris has been a coach in the NFL for the better part of two decades and has won two Super Bowls, one as an assistant on the 2002 Buccaneers and another as the Rams’ defensive coordinator in 2021. Morris has also worked for the Falcons previously, rising through the ranks from 2015 to 2020 and briefly serving as interim head coach.

“When I see what he’s done and what he’s been around and the people he’s led and the people who have worked with these people speaking so highly of them, I mean, the evidence was just mounting to show that this is some serious alignment here,” Cousins said of his new head coach.

Cousins may not match Morris in championship success, having none himself, but the quarterback has succeeded in turning two separate teams into playoff contenders in his career. Both Washington and Minnesota improved dramatically with him under center, and in eight seasons as a full-time starter, he has had just two losing seasons and four trips to the postseason.

With Morris and Cousins joining forces on a team that already includes the likes of Robinson, Pitts and London, the Falcons suddenly seem like a machine in the vulnerable NFC South division. In one of the most chaotic free agency periods in NFL history, Atlanta has emerged as a team to watch.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins is the newest member of the Atlanta Falcons. Leaving in free agency following six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Cousins signed a four-year deal with Atlanta worth up to $180 million. The 35-year-old missed more than half of the 2023 season after an Achilles tear against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8 but hopes for a fresh start with his new team.

“After significant and positive dialogue with Kirk and his representatives, we were unable to reach agreement on a contract that fits the short and long-term visions for both Kirk and the Minnesota Vikings,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in a statement on Monday.

Though many question his performance in the playoffs, Cousins has proved himself to be a worthy starting quarterback in the NFL. Before the Achilles injury, he was leading the league in touchdowns and second in passing yards on an offense that saw star wide receiver Justin Jefferson in and out with injuries. In his time in Minnesota, Cousins threw for 171 touchdowns and helped lead the team to one NFC North title on a 50-37-1 record in the regular season and a 1-2 record in the playoffs.

Cousins is currently 24th all-time and fifth among active quarterbacks in career passing yards with 39,471. He is also 20th all-time in touchdowns with 270 and has made the Pro Bowl four times. Though he hasn’t seen much success in the playoffs, the numbers are there for Cousins, and his contract reflects that. Of the $180 million, he is set to make over the next four years, Cousins will receive $50 million as a signing bonus along with the safety of $100 million of the contract being guaranteed.

Cousins joins Atlanta’s young offense core, highlighted by running back Bijan Robinson, tight-end Kyle Pitts and receiver Drake London.

The Falcons traded long-time quarterback Matt Ryan before the 2022 season but have struggled to find success, finishing 7-10 the previous two years. In that span, the team saw Marcus Marriota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke all in the starting position, but none could cement themselves in the role. Atlanta also fired head coach Arthur Smith following their sub-par past few seasons and hired Raheem Morris in his place.

As he enters the back end of his career, the move to a young Falcons team could be the change Cousins needs to find playoff success. Competing in a relatively weak NFC South division, an injury-free season from their quarterback could bode well for the team making a playoff run in January.

Cousins’ new start and four-year deal worth up to $180 million will begin when he signs the contract on Wednesday, the official mark of the start of the 2024 season.

Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his right Achilles during the Vikings’ 24-10 win against NFC rivals Green Bay Packers. 

The injury could likely see him out for the rest of the season. 

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell commented on Cousins’ potential season-ending injury.

“It just hurts to know that he’s more than likely not going to be able to continue progressing forward on what has really felt like maybe his best season as a pro,” he said. 

Cousins entered the Packers game by leading the NFL in touchdown passes with 16. He was also second in passing yards with 2,057. Cousins went 23 of 31 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns before sustaining the injury. 

Cousins’ injury came with less than ten minutes left in the fourth quarter, where Cousin’s right leg buckled against Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark during a sack. Rookie quarterback Jaren Hall helped end the game.

Many of his teammates expressed disappointment with Cousins’s injury

“You see it day in and day out, how much he takes care of his body. He lives and breathes being durable and out there and available for us. It’s surprising and it hurts. People don’t understand how much he means to us,” right tackle Brian O’Neill said.

“There’s nothing really I can say about it. I just love Kirk to death. I love his family. I love him. I love everything about him. To see a guy like that go down is always tough,” tight end T.J. Hockenson commented. 

The Vikings, who are 4-4, play the Atlanta Falcons on November 5.

Kirk Cousins has become widely known for his unique actions and words both on and off the field.

Recently, Cousins was caught in the midst of controversy for saying he would rather be encased in plexiglass than receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Interestingly, Cousins has already missed a week of training camp because he was contact traced to someone who tested positive for the coronavirus. This consequence did not seem to affect his outlook on getting the vaccine.

Cousins is not the only NFL quarterback to refuse the vaccine. Cam Newton also alluded to not wanting a vaccine shot.

Whether Cousins and Newton decide to get the vaccine in the future remains to be seen.

Last season, the Minnesota Vikings were very close to clinching a Wild Card spot in the playoffs. However, it all went wrong during a three-game losing streak that broke the hearts of fans. It was the first time since 2014 that the Vikings missed the playoffs and just the second time under head coach Mike Zimmer.

Despite a heartbreaking season, Minnesota has reasons to be optimistic about the 2021 season, especially after wide receiver Justin Jefferson broke the NFL rookie record for receiving yards with 1,400 and was named to the Pro Bowl.

The Vikings also have one of the most talented duos in the backfield in Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison. Cook finished second in rushing yards (1,557) and in total touchdowns (17) at the running back position. While the offense will run through Cook, the Vikings also have a solid aerial attack with Jefferson and veteran wideout Adam Thielen.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins is still performing at a high enough level to potentially lead this talented team to the postseason.

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Minnesota Vikings Schedule:

• Week 1: Sun 09/12 at Cincinnati Bengals
• Week 2: Sun 09/19 at Arizona Cardinals
• Week 3: Sun 09/26 vs Seattle Seahawks
• Week 4: Sun 10/03 vs Cleveland Browns
• Week 5: Sun 10/10 vs Detroit Lions
• Week 6: Sun 10/17 at Carolina Panthers
• Week 7: Sun 10/24 BYE Week
• Week 8: Sun 10/31 vs Dallas Cowboys
• Week 9: Sun 11/07 at Baltimore Ravens
• Week 10: Sun 11/14 at Los Angeles Chargers
• Week 11: Sun 11/21 vs Green Bay Packers
• Week 12: Sun 11/28 at San Francisco 49ers
• Week 13: Sun 12/05 at Detroit Lions
• Week 14: Thu 12/09 vs Pittsburgh Steelers 
• Week 15: Mon 12/20 at Chicago Bears 
• Week 16: Sun 12/26 vs Los Angeles Rams
• Week 17: Sun 1/02 at Green Bay Packers
• Week 18: Sun 01/09 vs Chicago Bears

NFC North: The Vikings have to get through the Packers if they want to win the division. Not only that, but they have to watch out for the Bears, who are on the rise. The Vikings should get two easy wins against the atrocious Lions, but the team’s remaining four games in the division will be tough. If Minnesota can beat Chicago in both meetings, they have a good shot at securing a Wild Card spot.

Matchups: Minnesota has a tough stretch beginning after their Week 7 bye. From Week 8 to Week 11, the Vikings will have to take on the Cowboys, Ravens and Packers. However, things get even tougher towards the end of the season. From Week 14 to Week 18,  Minnesota will only face teams that made the playoffs last year. Over that five-week stretch, the Vikings will suit up against the Steelers, Rams and Packers, as well as the Bears twice. If the Vikings have any shot at the division title, they will need to sweep the Bears and defeat the Packers at least once. If they do all that, they could very well steal the division crown from Green Bay.

Prediction: The Vikings will finish second in the NFC North with a 10-7 record, which will be good enough to clinch a Wild Card spot in the playoffs.

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The Cowboys used the exclusive franchise tag on quarterback Dak Prescott Monday, which keeps him under contract for the 2020 season. Under exclusive franchise tag stipulations, the two sides will have to decide on a long-term deal by July 15 or Prescott will be paid a salary of approximately $31.6 million in 2020. The franchise tag also prevents him from becoming a free agent and signing with another team. He becomes the 11th quarterback in history to receive the franchise tag, the first time Dallas has ever used it on a quarterback. The last quarterback to be tagged was Kirk Cousins who received it two years in a row (2016, 2017).

In effect, this gives Dallas more time to decide on a contract that suits both parties while the organization decides if Prescott deserves to be paid like an elite quarterback. Negotiations are still underway, but Cowboy fans must hope the timeliness of a new contract doesn’t affect the relationship between Prescott and management.  According to reports, both camps have disagreed on the amount of guaranteed money and the yearly salary of the contract. In comparison, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson makes $35 million per year and is the highest-paid quarterback. Other elite quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger make $33.5 million and $34 million respectively. All three have at least one Super Bowl ring.

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As far as the team’s future is concerned, new leadership in the locker room will determine how successful the Cowboys are going forward. Jason Garrett was fired after missing the playoffs with a team that possessed talent good enough to compete for a Super Bowl, but fell short with an 8-8 record and didn’t qualify for the playoffs.  Now, new head coach Mike McCarthy looks to implement a new system and develop Prescott so the team can hopefully lift the Lombardi trophy for the first time since 1996.

Prescott is coming off his fourth and best season of his career as the starting quarterback in Dallas after taking over for an injured Tony Romo in 2016. In 2019, Prescott posted career highs in completions (388), passing yards (4,902) and touchdowns (30) with a passer rating of 99.7.

Kirk Cousins agreed to a two-year extension to remain with the Minnesota Vikings on Monday. The deal is worth $66 million.

Prior to the contract extension, Cousins was coming into the last year of a three-year deal worth $84 million that he signed with Minnesota in 2018. When combining next year’s salary with the current deal, Cousins is slated to earn $96 million with $61 million guaranteed by signing, league sources told ESPN. He will receive $35 million guaranteed for injury, however, the deal changes to fully guaranteed as the 2021 season begins. The extension helps Minnesota clear $10 million worth of cap space that can be applied to NFL free agency which officially begins on March 18.

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Cousins had been constantly criticized for not performing well in big games, but last season he compiled stats consisting of 26 touchdowns, 3603 passing yards and a career-high 107.4 passer rating with just six interceptions.  In the NFC Wild Card game, Cousins helped the Vikings shock the heavily favored Saints before falling to the 49ers in the divisional round.

The NFC saw the San Francisco 49ers (14-3) take on the Minnesota Vikings (11-7) in what proved to be a San Francisco dominated game. The 49ers won 27-10 in front of a red and gold crowd to move on the NFC Championship game.

The 49ers defense was solid all game and as the clock began to wind down in the fourth, they didn’t let up, shutting down Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and the rest of the offense. Despite a few conversions and a fumble recovery late in the fourth, the Vikings were unable to pull off the win at Levi’s Stadium.

Cousins was 21 of 29 with one touchdown and one interception while Dalvin Cook was stopped on his nine carries for just 18 yards. San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh did an excellent job calling plays in order to keep Cook from doing what he does best.

San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had a decent night going 11 of 19 with one touchdown and an interception. Tevin Coleman led with 22 carries and 105 yards, while Raheem Mostert helped out by adding 58 yards on 12 carries. Richard Sherman also had a big night on defense, creating problems for Cousins in the back field.

Entering the offseason, the Vikings will reevaluate with potential roster changes and coaching shake-ups as they seek to fix the mistakes that have cost them big games this season.

As for the 49ers, they will face the winner of Green Bay and Seattle in the NFC Championship game and the chance to head to the Super Bowl.