The Atlanta Falcons have a major decision regarding quarterback Kirk Cousins and his contract.
Kirk Cousins Contract Situation
The Falcons and Kirk Cousins recently agreed to a modified final two years of his contract, setting March 13th up as a date to make a decision on the QB's future with the franchise by.
Details: https://t.co/YGmmbYApml
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 6, 2026
Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the Falcons have reworked the final two years of Cousins’ contract.
In the new agreement, Cousins’ 2026 base salary was reduced from $35 million to $2.1 million. The $32.9 million removed from 2026 will now be added to his 2027 salary, taking it to $67.9 million.
The new 2027 salary will be fully guaranteed on March 13, 2026, if Cousins is still on the Falcons’ roster.
This new agreement does not affect the guaranteed money that the Falcons owe Cousins.
By adjusting Cousins’ contract for the next two years, the Falcons created cap flexibility. If Atlanta designates Cousins as a post-June 1 release, the team will have a new cap hit of $24.6 million into June. Then, the dead cap will be $22.5 million in 2026 and $12.5 million in 2027.
Cousins could still agree to a new deal with the Falcons. However, these moves suggest that Atlanta will designate Cousins as a post-June 1 release before the March 13 deadline. In that scenario, Cousins becomes a free agent immediately.
After six seasons in Minnesota, Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta during the 2024 offseason. Cousins believed he would be the team’s starting quarterback.
However, the Falcons stunned Cousins and the NFL community by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Cousins started the first 14 games of the 2024 season and posted a 7-7 record. Former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris then benched Cousins in favor of Penix for the final three games of the season.
Penix entered the 2025 campaign as the Falcons’ starter, with Cousins as the backup. Penix suffered a season-ending knee injury in November, and Cousins started the final seven games of the season.
The Falcons went 5–3 in Cousins’ eight starts, ending the season with four consecutive wins. Cousins finished the season with 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
The veteran quarterback will be 38 at the start of next season. While not the prolific passer of old, Cousins could still be valuable to a team looking for a bridge quarterback or a temporary replacement for an injured starter.
Falcons’ Regime Changes
Head Coach Raheem Morris and General Manager Terry Fontenot have been dismissed from their roles https://t.co/qW5yA3PxdY pic.twitter.com/kcMOUOjfeT
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 5, 2026
After an 8-9 season, the Falcons cleaned house.
Atlanta parted ways with Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot following Sunday’s win over the Saints.
The Falcons also promoted Greg Beadles as the new president and chief executive officer. Beadles succeeds Rich McKay, who had the role since 2011.
The Falcons are expected to hire Matt Ryan, the team’s best quarterback in franchise history, as the new president of football operations.
With a new front office, the Falcons will now try to find the right coach to establish a winning culture.
