The Atlanta Falcons are in an awkward position with their quarterbacks. Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins to a massive $180 million contract in free agency last year. Then they shocked the world by drafting Michael Penix Jr. in the first round. Penix Jr. is clearly the future in Atlanta, which begs the question of what will the Falcons do with Cousins?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped some interesting nuggets on Monday surrounding a potential Kirk Cousins trade.
Schefter floated both the Vikings and the Steelers as two teams that could be interested in trading for Cousins. He noted that Atlanta wants an acquiring team to pay $20 million of Cousins’ $45 million worth of guarantees left on his contract.
โThere is a feeling around the league that a team, whether it is the Vikings or Steelers, might be willing to pay down roughly $10 million,โ Schefter wrote on Monday. โHow much any team would be willing to pay also would influence the compensation it gives up. The higher the payment, the lower the draft compensation; the lower the payment, the higher the draft compensation.โ
Atlanta may need to be flexible on what they’re demanding from other teams. Especially if they also want them to eat a portion of Cousins’ guaranteed money.
Schefter also noted that the Falcons are apparently demanding โa lotโ for Kirk Cousins in trade discussions with other NFL teams.
