As the Libre Agency approaches, the quarter of the Falcons Kirk Cousins tried to become. But the Falcons refused to release him.
Keeping cousins, its remaining guarantees increased from $ 27.5 million to $ 37.5 million, thanks to a bonus of $ 10 million in March 2026.
Apart from Atlanta, the quarter of the quarter musical chairs started. The seats were filled. Starting jobs, even if in certain places, were alleged. And the cousins are wary of a rehearsal of the surprise of the end of the last year, chose to wait after the project to entertain whether to give up his clause without exchange.
With the imminent draft, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com recently reported that the Falcons wanted the new team of cousins (if there is a job) to collect $ 20 million from its remaining guarantees. Implicit in this assertion is that Falcons would remain on the hook for $ 17.5 million.
At first glance, it is a surprising revelation. With the top of the market currently at $ 60 million in new APY for a quarter-Arrière, $ 27.5 million is a good deal. With few vacant starting jobs – and with most budgets, the contracts paid once the frenzy started – the market has widely dried up.
It is up to the point that, as Schefter says, there is a feeling around the league that a team like the Vikings or the Steelers would be willing to pay only $ 10 million from the remaining guarantees of cousins.
This number seems to be more than coincidence. If Aaron Rodgers is willing (as he claims to be) to play for Steelers or Vikings for only $ 10 million, why should one or the other team offer more than that of cousins?
There is another important factor in play. If a team like the Steelers or the Vikings can obtain cousins for only $ 10 million, its place at the top of the depth table would become more tenuous. (It is much more likely to start Pittsburgh than in Minnesota, unless JJ McCarthy is injured or just not “that”.) If the cousins give up his clause without exchange to potentially become a replacement in a new city?
At this point, it seems that the best movement for falcones and for cousins will be to wait. If there is an end -of -season injury to a starter before the deadline for trade, a new team could be ready to absorb much more of the remaining contract – and the cousins could be more inclined to give up the clause without exchange.
There is no real drawback to keep the cousins around. It is not as if it was going to make situations of a shirtless path or lead press conferences “the next question” on his lawn. He will be a good soldier. He will keep his feelings near the vest. He will do his job. And he will be ready to play if he needs.
Will he be happy with the situation? At the end of the regular season, he will have won $ 90 million for two years in Atlanta. Although money cannot buy happiness, it can greatly contribute to removing the stick from its buttocks.
So, unless Cousins has a clear blow at the start, why uproot his life to be potentially n ° 2 in a new city?
Of course, the Falcons could decide that they do not want cousins at all on the depth painting, in the event, the Penix struggles and the parts of the changing rooms begin to whisper for the other guy. If the Falcons have cut it, it will be free to go everywhere, for everything he can get. (And if no one will pay more than $ 27.5 million, cousins may take $ 1.255 million and glue the hawks with the balance.)
At this stage, Falcons have an easy solution – especially since Cousins is complex and final on the question of whether a business will occur. Over time, a solution could emerge. At a time when there is not easy, patience seems to be the smartest game.
