The Atlanta Falcons are about to enter one of the most pivotal offseasons in recent memory. Head coach Raheem Morris, general manager Terry Fontenot and CEO Rich McKay are all gone. The remaining question is whether veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins will soon follow.
With so much turnover already underway, it would surprise no one if Cousins were added to that list. That decision, however, will ultimately fall to the team’s next general manager and head coach — whoever they may be.
And that process could take time. The Falcons have already lined up interviews with candidates including Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham.
The good news for Atlanta is that it has until March 13 to make a final determination on Cousins’ future. That date is tied directly to the four-year, $180 million contract Cousins signed before the 2024 season.
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Falcons Restructure Kirk Cousins’ Contract
On January 6, ESPN’s Field Yates reported that Cousins and the Falcons agreed to restructure the final two years of his deal.
“As part of the restructure, there is now a guarantee in the amount of $67.9 million for the 2027 season that vests March 13,” Yates wrote. “Given the high unlikelihood that the Falcons — or any team that would acquire Cousins via trade — would want to be on the hook for that $67.9 million, a decision on Cousins’ future could come before that date.”
Yates added that the restructure reduced Cousins’ 2026 base salary from a non-guaranteed $35 million to $2.1 million — a difference of $32.9 million. That amount was shifted to the 2027 season, increasing his compensation there but redistributing how the money is allocated.
Importantly, the restructure did not affect any guaranteed money Cousins was already owed.
While Yates noted that another amended deal could still be worked out to keep Cousins in Atlanta beyond 2025, the revised contract also creates a clearer off-ramp for both sides.
Restructured Contract Helps Falcons’ Salary Cap
The reworked deal was designed primarily to improve Atlanta’s salary-cap flexibility, particularly if the team decides to move on from Cousins before March 13.
“Such a release would split the dead money on Cousins’ contract over the 2026 and 2027 league years, as opposed to the team taking on the full amount in 2026, while also creating cap flexibility for Atlanta on June 2,” Yates explained. “Additionally, by agreeing to reduce Cousins’ base salary for the 2026 year, the Falcons create more cap flexibility right away, as his cap charge dropped immediately.”
Before the restructure, Cousins was set to account for more than 19% of the Falcons’ total cap space in 2026. Now, Atlanta sits at $37.7 million in available cap space — 16th-most in the NFL — with Cousins accounting for just 8.08% of the total cap, according to Spotrac.
While none of this guarantees Cousins’ return to Atlanta in 2026, it does represent a positive development for that possibility. When the 2026 season begins, Michael Penix Jr. will still be recovering from ACL surgery, leaving a significant question mark at quarterback. A Cousins return would immediately answer that question.
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