The Atlanta Falcons are continuing to play the waiting game with quarterback Kirk Cousins. Reports continue to emerge that the team is perfectly comfortable keeping the quarterback as their backup for the 2025 season. A lot of this is likely due to the belief either a trade will present itself or Cousins will become willing to waive his guarantees and make a release a cheaper option.
If neither of these options are on the table, the Falcons appear unwilling to pay Cousins to play elsewhere. With this in mind, the options are quickly dwindling for the quarterback with four possible landing spots remaining.
1. Cleveland Browns
There is a reason the Browns have been the team consistently pointed to when considering landing spots for Cousins. Deshaun Watson is out of the picture for the 2025 season but remains a heavy cap burden. Cleveland can't move on from the quarterback just yet, leaving the franchise with limited options.
A wise decision would be to draft a quarterback and hope you find your future. Even with Watson on the roster it would be an easy fix. By the time the rookie contract was up, the Browns would have the needed cap space and have moved on from Watson. Still, the Browns never make the obvious choice and often cannot get out of their own way.
This is a piece of why Cousins remains a perfect fit for a franchise that is stuck. The veteran would be a potential selling point for fans and give some false hope of contending in a stacked division. Cleveland remains the most likely landing spot if Kirk Cousins is going to be released at some point in the offseason. A trade cannot be entirely ruled out, but it is difficult to make work with Cleveland's tight cap. Kirk Cousins landing in Cleveland remains one of the more likely ways this ends for the veteran.
2. Minnesota Vikings
How much faith do the Vikings have in J.J. McCarthy? The answer to this question will decide whether or not they are a potential landing spot for Kirk Cousins. It would seem improbable that McCarthy is a franchise guy when you consider the early success of Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, and Bo Nix. Add in the fact that Michael Penix Jr. looks the part of a franchise quarterback and the odds continue to decrease.
It doesn't help matters that you've lost Daniel Jones and are now completely reliant on McCarthy. Could the Vikings talk themselves into a reunion with Cousins? It would make sense when you consider the results you had with Sam Darnold a season ago. Cousins already knows your receivers and offense. It would bring in a level of stability and give the team hope of competing in what appears to be a stacked division. The only reason this can't work is the fact it could be viewed as a move backwards by the organization. A reunion with Cousins could be viewed as admitting a mistake of moving on from the veteran a season ago.
3. San Francisco 49ers
Is it possible San Francisco trades Brock Purdy? There hasn't been a hint or reliable rumor the team is going to do anything but pay their quarterback. However, it wouldn't be shocking to see the team opt to move on from the limited starter. Consider the path the Seahawks just took by turning Geno Smith into a draft pick and signing Sam Darnold.
The 49ers could consider making a similar move as they continue to turn the page. No longer having a stocked group of weapons changes the ceiling of what Purdy can be. There is a known respect between Cousins and the San Francisco head coach. Stranger things have happened to completely rule out the idea of the 49ers making a surprise change.
4. Atlanta Falcons
With all of the quarterback moves already made and Atlanta's continued hard stance on keeping Cousins, this must be taken seriously. There is still an easy argument to be made that the team has simply been posturing. Waiting for Cousins to either alter his contract or for a team to grow desperate enough to offer a trade. What happens if neither of these paths are taken and the Falcons are left with the quarterback?
The answer appears to be the team moving into the 2025 season with a historically paid backup quarterback. It would be nice to have the stability of Cousins with Penix's injury history. If Kirk's collapse was due to injury there is a chance the quarterback has something left in the tank.
Cousins backing up Penix could offer the Falcons a great second option if the team isn't completely sold on the starter. The flip side of this is the fact that you're setting up an awkward situation for Penix and the Atlanta locker room. Cousins is known to be a popular leader and was obviously respected in Atlanta. Bringing him back as you attempt to turn the page to Penix could be difficult for all involved.
However, this is the corner the Falcons have painted themselves into if Cousins doesn't come to the table and there isn't a trade offer out there. With each quarterback move made in free agency and via trade it becomes increasingly likely Cousins starts the season in Atlanta. With Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders still likely to take two of the remaining starting jobs, the odds are already long. Atlanta fans should prepare themselves for the increasingly real chance Kirk Cousins is back in an Atlanta uniform for the 2025 season.