PALM BEACH, Fla. — Kirk Cousins has expressed his desire to become a starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, although head coach Raheem Morris hasn’t dismissed the possibility of a trade. Despite this, Morris emphasized that the team’s current plan is to retain Cousins as the backup for Michael Penix Jr.
“We have a lot of confidence in Kirk as our backup quarterback,” Morris stated on Tuesday during the NFL meetings. “We value him greatly, both as a player and as a person. Of course, the NFL is a business, and if the right opportunity arises, we won’t stand in his way. He’s been upfront about his wish to start.”
Cousins, who inked a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed last March, found himself sidelined after struggling to reclaim his form following a torn Achilles tendon. Michael Penix Jr. took over the last three games as the starter, managing a record of 1-2 and concluding the season with a team record of 8-9 after initially starting 6-3.
The 36-year-old quarterback completed 66.9% of his passes, throwing for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns, albeit with a career-high of 16 interceptions. The last $10 million of his guaranteed sum was dispensed last month since he remained on the roster beyond March 17.
With a no-trade clause in his contract, Cousins has indicated his willingness to waive this condition should an opportunity to start elsewhere materialize. The Cleveland Browns are still on the lookout for a starting quarterback, and Cousins has a history with Kevin Stefanski, who was part of the Minnesota coaching team before stepping up as a head coach elsewhere.