After Atlanta benched Cousins late in the 2024 campaign in favor of Penix, despite signing him to a massive four-year, $180 million contract in free agency last offseason, his future with the team immediately became one of the biggest storylines in the league.

Kirk Cousins is one of the most experienced quarterbacks currently in the NFL, and the Atlanta Falcons made a strong bet on him just months ago. Despite that, his starting role with the team is not guaranteed, and the franchise might not be opposed to a potential trade—especially if another team is willing to take on his contract.

The Atlanta Falcons have "asked for a lot" in return for quarterback Kirk Cousins when privately discussing trades with opposing teams, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.