Falcons Predicted to Trade Away 4x Pro Bowler Before Week 1

The Atlanta Falcons are entering the 2025 season with playoff expectations. After falling just short last season, Atlanta seems to have turned to its quarterback of the future with Michael Penix Jr.

With training camp getting underway and the Falcons about to play in their first preseason game, it’s time the front office starts thinking about the roster and the future of some members of that roster. Atlanta has all the explosive offensive weapons in Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and possibly Kyle Pitts, if he can establish a connection with Penix Jr. that he was unable to with other Falcons quarterbacks.

It is head coach Raheem Morris’ second season, and pressure is always high in the Falcons organization for a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2017.

Falcons Should Make Major Trade of Kirk Cousins

At this point, nobody is surprised to see reports of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins being involved in trade rumors. Atlanta signed him to a four-year, $180 million deal before last season, and he suffered a severe regression in 2024 when it mattered most for the Falcons.

Cousins, despite being benched for Penix Jr., still has $27.5 million guaranteed this season. As speculation grows, Cousins remains with the organization for now, taking practice reps, but could he be on the move soon?

Bleacher Report recently ran an article naming a player from each team that should be on the trade block during the preseason, and it comes as no surprise that Cousins was named as the Falcons’ option:

“While the Falcons have insisted they’re willing to keep the veteran as a pricey backup, assistant GM Kyle Smith said in April they could make a move if “something makes sense,” per ESPN’s Marc Raimondi. Getting out from under Cousins’ contract would, for Atlanta, make sense. The problem is the soon-to-be 37-year-old (August 19) wants to be a starter and has a no-trade clause in his contract. Right now, there simply isn’t a clear opening to be had. That could quickly change, though, if an injury occurs or another team’s open QB competition goes south. The Falcons should make it clear to 31 other teams that Cousins is available.”

Kirk Cousins’ Trade Value

The Atlanta Falcons were certainly hoping they would be getting the Cousins of 2023 when they signed him to such a lucrative contract. Cousins played just eight games in 2023 after a ruptured Achilles, but he was playing at a high level at the time of the injury with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He followed that up with an incredible start to the 2024 season, but there may have been an injury that slowed his production and caused a mental block to his game. He threw 18 touchdowns last season, but also led the NFL in interceptions with 16, and he was eventually benched for Penix Jr.

However, Cousins does have some value if another team needs a veteran quarterback for their room, but if the Falcons were to move him, another team would need to eat up a little bit of that $27.5 million he’s owed this season. Cousins is a four-time Pro Bowler, but it’s unclear if he will ever regain that form like he had with the Minnesota Vikings. As far as trade value, he has, the Falcons could ask for a depth defensive piece like either a defensive back or another middle linebacker, or garner a fifth- or sixth-round draft pick instead.