NFL insider paints a bleak picture for the Falcons and Kirk Cousins

The Falcons came into the offseason with two primary objectives — improve the pass rush and trade Kirk Cousins.

Terry Fontenot accomplished the first one. Atlanta’s GM brought in Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr., and Leonard Floyd. The combination of those three, along with the other pass rushers on the roster — Arnold Ebiketie, Kaden Elliss, etc. — should improve that unit.

The improvement in the secondary should also have a positive impact on Atlanta’s ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks, but the prospect of a Kirk Cousins trade coming to fruition is looking less and less likely. In fact, I’d put the odds closer to 100% than 50% that he stays in Atlanta.

There are really only two situations in which Fontenot is able to trade Cousins away. The first one requires Aaron Rodgers to retire. That would then force the Steelers to pivot to other options, which there are few. Secondly, an injury arises, and that team is forced to replace its starting quarterback.

I’m not even sure which is more likely, but Albert Breer agrees those are virtually the only scenarios in which a Kirk Cousins trade is actionable.

“Realistically, at this point, it seems like the two possible exit doors for Cousins open if the Steelers don’t land Rodgers or another quarterback gets hurt somewhere. But even if there’s an injury, it’d have to happen before the trade deadline. And there’s a chance that Cousins wouldn’t want to uproot his family—and could thus block a trade if he doesn’t like the destination.”

While Cousins isn’t going to accept a trade to just any team, there’s no reason to believe he wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause to be a starter. Beggars can’t be choosers, and I would wager that Cousins would accept any situation as long as he is guaranteed to play.

Sitting on the pine and biding his time isn’t really an option for a 36-year-old who will turn 37 in August. Cousins’ career is fleeting, and if there’s even a slight chance that he can start somewhere again, I imagine he’ll take that opportunity.

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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire

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