(Atlanta, GA) – The Atlanta Falcons find themselves entangled in a perplexing quarterback quandary as the reverberations of Kirk Cousins’ Achilles injury continue to ripple through the organization. While the team’s offseason acquisition of the veteran signal-caller was supposed to provide stability, the lingering effects of his ailment have cast a shadow of uncertainty over the Falcons’ plans.
Compounding the situation is the team’s bold decision to select Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the draft, a move that has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about the franchise’s long-term aspirations at the quarterback position. As the Falcons grapple with the Cousins conundrum, a rare contractual exception has emerged as a potential lifeline, albeit one shrouded in complexity.
Cousins, who inked a lucrative three-year, $105 million pact with the Falcons, sustained the Achilles injury during the offseason, prompting concerns about his readiness for the upcoming campaign. Although he passed a physical for most aspects, the Achilles issue remained a nagging question mark. During his introductory press conference, Cousins acknowledged that he would need to pass an Achilles-specific physical later on, setting the stage for a potential showdown between the team and its prized acquisition.
However, according to a source privy to the contract’s intricacies, the Falcons have a narrow escape route – a rare exception that could potentially allow them to circumvent the financial implications of Cousins’ injury. The source revealed that while Cousins’ $50 million signing bonus hinges on passing a physical, the pre-existing Achilles injury is explicitly excluded from this requirement, provided the veteran quarterback adheres to the rehabilitation protocol prescribed by the team’s medical staff.
This caveat essentially binds the Falcons to Cousins’ contract, at least for the time being. As long as the former Vikings quarterback follows the team’s rehabilitation regimen diligently, under the watchful eye of the head team physician and athletic trainer, the Falcons are obligated to pay him the full $50 million signing bonus.
While this arrangement secures Cousins’ financial compensation in the short term, it does not preclude the possibility of an eventual parting of ways. With only $27.5 million in salary due to Cousins in 2025, finding a trade partner could emerge as a viable option if both parties decide to move in different directions after one season together.
However, such a maneuver would not come without significant financial repercussions. A pre-June 1 trade in 2025 would result in a staggering dead-money charge of $37.5 million for the Falcons, albeit avoiding an additional $37.5 million in future guarantees owed to Cousins. If the Falcons believe Penix Jr. is ready to assume the starting role after just one year, the fact that they would have their anointed quarterback on a cost-effective rookie deal could potentially mitigate the financial blow.
Alternatively, a trade after the 2025 season (before June 1, 2026) would result in a comparatively smaller cap charge of $25 million for the Falcons. However, in this scenario, the team would have shelled out a whopping $90 million for just two seasons of Cousins’ services – a steep price to pay for any franchise.
The crux of the matter lies in determining the optimal juncture for the Falcons to pivot to Penix Jr., their presumptive quarterback of the future. While the team has publicly suggested that the rookie could marinate on the sidelines for four or five years, this assertion seems implausible on its face. A more realistic scenario would involve an accelerated transition if the young signal-caller impresses during OTAs and preseason, showcasing the talent and poise that prompted the Falcons to invest a premium draft pick in his services.
In an ideal situation for the Falcons, Penix Jr. could set the offseason ablaze with his performances, prompting another team in dire need of a starting quarterback to pursue a trade for Cousins before the start of the 2024 season. A post-June 1 trade in 2024 would have the same cap implications as a trade before June 1, 2025, and the acquiring team could agree to assume the remaining portions of Cousins’ signing bonus due in September and December of that year.
This scenario bears an uncanny resemblance to the 2016 situation when the Minnesota Vikings lost Teddy Bridgewater just before the season’s curtain-raiser. The Philadelphia Eagles, initially planning to start Sam Bradford while allowing Carson Wentz to learn and develop, swiftly pivoted and traded Bradford to the Vikings in exchange for a first- and fourth-round pick, underscoring the volatility that can pervade the NFL landscape.
While these outcomes are far from certainties, they are not entirely implausible. If Penix Jr. rapidly demonstrates his readiness to assume the mantle of a starting NFL quarterback, the Falcons have potential avenues to expedite the transition from Cousins to their young signal-caller of the future.
Ultimately, Penix Jr. represents the embodiment of the Falcons’ long-term aspirations at the quarterback position. The sooner the team can adroitly integrate him as the present-day solution, the better positioned they will be to navigate the tumultuous waters of the NFL and secure a prosperous future.
As the Falcons continue to grapple with the Cousins injury fallout and the accompanying implications, the franchise’s decision-makers must exercise prudence, foresight, and an unwavering commitment to making the optimal choices for the organization’s success. In the ever-evolving landscape of professional football, adaptability and a keen eye for opportunity are paramount – qualities the Falcons must embrace as they chart their course through this perplexing quagmire.
