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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins was signed to be the starter in 2024 and doubtlessly past, however then the staff drafted Michael Penix, Jr. within the first spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft. Now with Cousins trying shaky, it’s changing into extra probably the veteran gained’t be the starter in 2025.
Kirk Cousins 2024 stats
The play of Kirk Cousins has put his contract beneath the microscope. He has an interception in 4 straight video games together with a four-interception outing in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13. He leads the NFL in picks in 2024.
Wins aren’t a QB stat, however the Falcons are 0-3 during the last month and went from a robust lead within the NFC South to second place within the division and utterly out of the playoffs at 6-7.
Kirk Cousins has contract protections in-built for the QB
This previous offseason, Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract however solely half of that’s assured. Genuinely, that makes it a two-year, $90 million contract with $45-million staff choices for 12 months 3 and 12 months 4. Along with his $27.5 million 2025 wage totally assured, it’s unlikely the Falcons will straight up launch him, however they might commerce him. In the event that they commerce him, they’d have paid him $62.5 million for one season at quarterback.
What are the cap ramifications of slicing Kirk Cousins?
Cousins’ 2025 wage is totally assured, so in the event that they lower Cousins, they are going to nonetheless owe him $27.5 million in money.
The Falcons have paid him $62.5 million however solely accounted for $25 million on their 2024 cap. If he’s not on the roster through lower or commerce, the remaining $37.5 million would should be accounted for on the 2025 cap.
For those who add the $27.5 million to the $37.5 million, the $65 million useless cap hit could be the second-highest in NFL historical past behind solely Russell Wilson with the Denver Broncos.
What if the Falcons commerce Kirk Cousins?
To start out this dialog, it’s crucial that we point out that Cousins has a full no-trade clause and would wish to approve a transfer to a brand new staff. Nevertheless, his deal could be fairly inexpensive for that new staff. They’d inherit one assured yr at $27.5 million on his contract, a really cheap quantity for Cousins. If that determine was the common, it will be simply the 18th-highest common QB wage within the NFL. Then they might hold him in 2026 for $45 million. (If I’m Cousins, a part of my negotiations for lifting the no-trade clause would come with guaranteeing some or the entire 2026 cash, which is an attention-grabbing wrinkle.)
What are the cap ramifications of buying and selling Kirk Cousins?
For the Falcons, they’ve paid Cousins $62.5 million however solely accounted for $25 million on the wage cap. That leaves $37.5 million that must be accounted for. If he’s not on the roster by commerce, that will be his cap hit in 2025 for the Falcons. In the event that they commerce him after June 1, that will be break up between 2024 and 2025.
What’s his cap hit if the Falcons hold Cousins?
Like we stated earlier than, his 2025 wage is already totally assured so nothing would change on the stability sheet in the event that they saved him or lower him. They might additionally sit him because the veteran behind Penix and there’s little Cousins might do apart from create a stink within the media.
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