Netflix’s season two of Quarterback dropped today, and Kirk Cousins, who was also featured in season one, has returned for the second season. Except this time, he’s a member of the Atlanta Falcons.
This entire season sets up to be a juicy one for Atlanta fans, given everything that transpired this past season at the quarterback position. Which really began last offseason, when the Falcons sent shockwaves throughout the NFL world by selecting Michael Penix Jr. 8th overall just a few weeks after handing Kirk Cousins $100 million in guarantees.
It was an unprecedented course of events that had never happened in the history of the league. So, understandably, Kirk Cousins was caught off-guard, just like the rest of us. In Quarterback, the veteran reveals that had he known the Falcons were planning on taking a quarterback that high like the Vikings were, it would have impacted his free agent decision.
“Certainly, if I had the information around free agency, it certainly would’ve affected my decision,” Cousins said, via Mark Raimondi of ESPN. “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 Falcons have never owed Kirk Cousins anything outside of the money they agreed to pay him. His feelings are irrelevant and always have been. Had the situation worked out like the Falcons envisioned initially, this wouldn’t even be a conversation. Cousins would have led the Falcons to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, and he would be preparing as the team’s starting quarterback again in 2025. Instead, he’s sitting behind Michael Penix Jr. in Atlanta as the league’s most expensive backup without any seriously interested suitors.
It’s understandable for a veteran quarterback on his last leg to feel some type of way about that, but Cousins’ feelings should be the last thing on the Falcons minds as they aim to break a seven-year postseason drought this upcoming season.
