MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Kirk Cousins is heading to Atlanta, where he will sign a four-year contract, his agent Mike McCartney announced on social media on Monday. The Falcons, who had gone through Tyler Heinicke and Desmond Ridder at quarterback the previous season, desperately needed a quarterback, and Cousins’ wife, Julie, was raised in the metro area.
Recovering from the first injury of his career—a torn Achilles tendon in his right foot—Cousins finished the previous season with the third-best passer rating in the league after missing eight games for the Vikings with a 103.8 rating.
The perfect example of a late bloomer, Cousins had some of his best games since coach Kevin O’Connell joined the Vikings in 2022.
Regardless of the outcome of this agreement, however, they would still require a succession plan because of Cousins’ advanced age and their dedication to a “competitive rebuild,” as general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has referred to it on multiple occasions.
The Vikings were adamant about wanting to carry on with
As much as he wanted to play one more season for Minnesota, cousins, he also made it plain that he wanted to be appreciated and given more than just a token year.
Cousins stated, “It’s not about the dollars, but what the dollars represent,” in a January 8 conversation with reporters.
Along with being the ultimate overachiever on the field—from an afterthought college recruit to a fourth-round draft selection and, at present, 24th on the NFL’s all-time passing yardage list (39,471)—cousins has also become an expert in the business side of the sport thanks to the tutelage of his agent, Mike McCartney.
When the Vikings had salary cap room and a desperate need at quarterback following an NFC title game participation in 2018, Cousins capitalized as the uncommon starting quarterback to hit free agency in 2018. Cousins had previously played on consecutive franchise tags for Washington in 2016 and 2017. When he signed for $84 million, he became the first fully guaranteed multi-year contract for a quarterback in league history.
Cousins’ earnings over the last eight seasons totaled more than $228 million. After the 2019 season, he has only triumphed in one postseason match.
A $28.5 million salary cap charge in 2024 for the outstanding signing bonus proration would arise from the Vikings restructuring Cousins’ contract a year ago without paying him any additional money, should they fail to complete an extension before the new league year officially begins on Wednesday afternoon.
