“Six potential landing spots for Kirk Cousins ​​if the Falcons decide to cut ties”

For the first time in about a decade, Kirk Cousins’ future in the NFL is in jeopardy.

Cousins, who signed a lucrative four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in March, was subbed in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. before the team’s Week 16 game against the New York Giants.

Now, this move doesn’t officially mean Cousins’ time in Atlanta is over. Penix, the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft, could struggle down the home stretch and hand the starting role right back to Cousins. But if Penix stays healthy and performs well, the Falcons could look to cut ties with the 36-year-old this offseason. After all, no team wants to pay a veteran quarterback $45 million per year to sit on the bench.

Cutting Cousins ​​would be a costly decision — $65 million in dead cap space, to be exact — but it’s not unprecedented. The Denver Broncos released quarterback Russell Wilson in March and faced a league-record $85 million in dead cap space split over the next two years.

Of course, Wilson then signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in hopes of securing the starting job. He did that, and the Steelers are currently just one win away from securing the AFC North division.

If the Falcons move on, could Cousins ​​fill Wilson’s shoes this offseason? And if so, where might it end up? Let’s look at some of the best options:

An aging quarterback recovering from an Achilles tendon injury? That hasn’t stopped the Jets in the past.

All eyes will be on New York’s decision to bring quarterback Aaron Rodgers back, potentially in 2025. However, given Rodgers’ subpar performance this year and the organization’s plan to hire a new general manager and head coach, a reunion between Rodgers and Jets seems unlikely.

If Rodgers departs, Cousins ​​would make perfect sense in New York, as the team is currently on track for a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He would join a talented roster and a new coaching staff while serving as a stopgap quarterback for the Jets’ future plans at the position, whatever they may be. Another bonus for the Jets: Cousins ​​doesn’t go viral every week for strange comments The Pat McAfee Show.

Kyle Shanahan’s dream would finally come true.

The 49ers coach has repeatedly expressed his fondness for Cousins ​​over the years, whom he coached in Washington for two seasons from 2012-13. San Francisco general manager John Lynch has also publicly admitted that the 49ers’ “master plan” was to pursue Cousins ​​via a trade or free agency in 2018 – until the team traded for Jimmy Garoppolo.

Despite their frustrating 2024 season, the 49ers are still reportedly planning to sign quarterback Brock Purdy to a long-term contract extension this offseason. But bringing in Cousins ​​on a cheap one-year contract for insurance in case Purdy’s problems continue into 2025 would be a good bet. Perhaps Shanahan will reunite with Cousins ​​just seven years after he first expressed his desire.

The Raiders, who have lost 10 straight games (2-12), appear likely to secure a top-two pick and likely select one of the best available quarterback candidates in Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward.

While Cousins ​​probably doesn’t prefer ending up with a team that’s expected to recruit a quarterback – that’s why he left Minnesota only to find himself in the same situation in Atlanta – this could be one be one of his better options. Cousins, who turns 37 in August, could start the year with a chance to prove he still has what it takes to be a starting quarterback in the NFL while teaching a young QB the ropes.

The Browns are a mess at the quarterback position. Why not get a little messier?

Entering next season, Deshaun Watson has two years remaining on his five-year, $230 million, fully guaranteed contract he signed in March 2022. Cleveland would face an unprecedented amount of dead cap space if cut this offseason ($172 million!). Therefore, Watson will likely return in 2025.

But Watson will have to recover from an Achilles tendon injury next fall, and he has done nothing to convince the Browns that he deserves the starting role despite being healthy this season. Cousins ​​could reunite — again on a favorable Wilson-like deal — with coach Kevin Stefanski, who served as quarterbacks coach in 2018 and as offensive coordinator at Minnesota in 1919. If he ended up in Cleveland, Cousins ​​would no longer be the most overpaid player in his quarterbacks room.

The Titans just benched former second-round pick Will Levis in favor of Mason Rudolph, who they probably don’t want to roll under center until 2025 as an answer.

Tennessee (3-11) is still behind two quarterback-needy teams in the draft order, the Raiders (2-12) and Giants (2-12), which doesn’t bode well for its chances of signing Sanders or Ward. If the Titans wanted to look more toward 2026 to select their quarterback of the future (hello, Arch Manning?), Cousins ​​could step in as a short-term replacement for coach Brian Callahan’s second year at the helm.

Last but not least, the New York Football Giants.

Just like the Raiders, the Giants appear poised to land a top-two pick and will likely select a quarterback after cutting former first-round pick Daniel Jones in November. However, if Drew Lock unexpectedly hits his stride to close out the year and wins a few must-lose games to knock the Giants out of the top pick, New York’s front office could be in trouble.

Giants owner John Mara insists general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll will return next year. If that’s the case and the Giants don’t have a top pick, they could call Cousins’ name at quarterback for some stability. This duo cannot survive another losing season.

Just don’t expect this call to Cousins ​​to be televised Hard hits: off-season. Things didn’t go so well for Schoen last year.