Quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons have agreed upon a four-year contract. The deal is potentially worth up to $180 million. $100 million is guaranteed, with $90 million being paid in the first two years of the deal. There is also a $2 million incentive if Cousins leads the Falcons to a Super Bowl title.
The maximum value of Kirk Cousins’s contract is potentially $188 million.
Cousins’ move to Atlanta was first announced by his agent, Mike McCartney. Cousins played 12 seasons for the Vikings and Washington. He threw for 39,471 yards and 270 touchdowns. He was selected to play in 4 Pro Bowls. However, after suffering an Achilles’ injury, the Vikings allowed Cousins to test the free agency market. The Vikings were serious about bringing back the quarterback, however the Falcons were serious about bringing Cousins in the building.
“After significant and positive dialogue with Kirk and his representatives, we were unable to reach agreement on a contract that fits the short and long-term visions for both Kirk and the Minnesota Vikings,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in a statement on Monday. “Kirk holds a special place in Vikings history, and we appreciate his leadership and contributions to the team and the Minneapolis-St. Paul community over the past six seasons. We wish him, his wife, Julie, and their children all the best.”
The Falcons were set on addressing the quarterback position after a mediocre season by 2023 starters Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. Ridder would finish the season with 2,836 passing yards, twelve touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Despite running for 976 yards, catching 58 passes for 487 yards and eight combined touchdowns, Bijan Robinson was never the every-down back the Falcons envisioned. Kyle Pitts struggled once again to be featured in an offense that didn’t have an above average quarterback. Pitts only had 53 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns. Drake London finished the season with 905 yards and two touchdowns.
During the NFL Combine, new Falcons head coach Raheem Morris did not mince words when describing the performance of the previous starting QBs.
“Now, it’s time to implement a couple new things, go out there and find out who’s gonna be the triggerman for us and put ourselves in a position to win,” Morris said. “I’m not afraid to say that we have the ability, and we’re capable of going out there to win next year. If we do some of the right things, make the right moves, we can do that.
“And that’s not an arrogance. That’s not a cockiness. That is more of a credit to the people who are in the building with me still and the people still and some of the people who are not there now.”
Additionally, General Manager Terry Fontenot echoed Morris’s sentiments during an interview with the team’s website.
“I am very excited about where we are, but we will be aggressive and we have to make this total team better,” Fontenot said. “Clearly, we’re going to get the quarterback position right, not close.”