Falcons General Manager Terry Fontenot continues to claim the team is content rolling into the 2025 season with the veteran as their backup. This is nothing more than a ploy to attract trade interest from other teams.
However, trades only work if there is outside interest and interest requires job openings. Fortunately, there has never been a better time to put a quarterback on the trade block. There is a lack of first-year starting-caliber quarterbacks in the draft, few free agent options, and now a top-tier passer is off the trade block.
Recently, the Rams gave Matt Stafford permission to look for a new team and, according to reports, the Raiders and Giants were hot on his tail. Unsurprisingly though, the Rams re-structured his deal taking him off the market.
Matt Stafford, Rams agreement is good news for the Falcons
Every quarterback taken off the board for QB-needy teams is excellent news for the Atlanta Falcons and their messy Kirk Cousins situation.
While there is still a lot of unknown when it comes to Atlanta's intentions with their expensive backup, it seems like they are hoping for a trade to happen. Letting Cousins go without any compensation would be a tough pill to swallow.
Many teams could be interested in a trade; the Browns are desperate after another Deshaun Watson setback, the Raiders and Giants have suffered at the position, and the Vikings could be interested in a reunion.
Following the Stafford news, seeing where free agents Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson land will be the next steps in a potential Cousins trade. Each domino that falls correctly puts the Falcons one step closer to lessening the pain of the disastrous contract.