The Atlanta Falcons are expected to release veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins before the new league year begins in March, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The team recently altered Cousins’ contract to make way for his potential release, lowering his base salary to $2.1 million for 2026 while guaranteeing the remaining $67.9 million of his deal if he’s still on the roster after March 11.
“That $67.9 million would become guaranteed if Cousins remains on the Falcons roster at the start of the league year in mid March,” explained Schefter. “Atlanta therefore is expected to release him, allowing Cousins to be a free agent yet again.”
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the team in 2024. The 37-year-old appeared in 24 games (22 starts) over the last two seasons, passing for 5,229 yards, 28 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
The Falcons got off to a 6-3 start with Cousins in 2024, but things went downhill once he injured his shoulder in a game against the New Orleans Saints. Cousins played poorly and the team went on a four-game losing streak. After an ugly win over a Desmond Ridder-led Las Vegas Raiders team, the Falcons benched Cousins.
Michael Penix Jr. took over for the rest of the season and went into 2025 as the starter. Unable to trade Cousins in the offseason, the Falcons were forced to held onto him as a backup to Penix. The team would later turn to Cousins after Penix injured his knee against the Carolina Panthers.
Cousins helped guide the team to a four-game winning streak to close out the 2025 season, and despite his prior relationship with new Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski, he will look to continue his NFL career elsewhere.
Releasing Cousins is the first notable move of Ian Cunningham’s tenure as general manager. If given a post-June 1 designation, cutting Cousins could save the Falcons about $2.1 million in cap space, while adding $22.5 million to the team’s dead money total.
With Cousins out of the picture, it’s clear the Falcons are going with Penix as their starter in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins ‘expected’ to be released
