The Minnesota Vikings made a reasonable decision by choosing not to re-sign Kirk Cousins during the 2024 offseason. His future with the Atlanta Falcons is now uncertain after being benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr.
If Cousins cannot secure his release from Atlanta, he may be traded.
CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin speculates that Cousins could reunite with former Vikings assistant Kevin Stefanski, who is currently the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
“Coach Kevin Stefanski spent two years working with Cousins in Minnesota, and given the quarterback’s struggles with the Falcons, he likely won’t command a high salary,” Benjamin wrote on January 28. “This could make him an ideal short-term replacement for the injured Deshaun Watson.”
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Watson sustained a second Achilles tear in January, less than three months after the first, putting his availability for the entire 2025 season in doubt.
His fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract leaves the Browns in a difficult position. While they may attempt to recover some of the guaranteed money, Cousins could serve as an affordable short-term option, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Watson, who has faced sexual misconduct allegations since 2020.
Kirk Cousins Could Be Cheap Bridge Option for Browns
Cousins, 36, completed 66.9% of his passes for 3,608 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions in 2024. He finished the season with a 7-7 record as the Falcons’ starting quarterback, having started 0-4 before securing a win against the Las Vegas Raiders in his final appearance.
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons.
If the Falcons release him, they would face a $40 million dead cap hit, even with a post-June 1 designation. However, they could save $27.5 million and incur only a $12.5 million dead cap hit if they trade him after June 1, making that a more financially viable option. The Browns finished the 2024 season with a 3-14 record, losing six straight games to close out the year.
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The Browns currently hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft, which could put Cousins in a similar situation to the one he left behind when he departed the Vikings for the Falcons—finding himself behind a rookie quarterback poised to take over.
Cousins has earned $293.9 million in his career, according to Over The Cap, allowing him to prioritize a starting role over simply taking more money as a backup. A strong season could set him up for another lucrative contract down the line.
However, OTC projects that the Browns are more than $30 million over the salary cap, meaning they’ll need to make significant moves to get in compliance before they can consider adding any new players to the roster.
Vikings Did Not Miss Beat Without Kirk Cousins
The Vikings made a wise move by drafting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, trading up to secure him, and also signing Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million deal. These decisions turned out to be smart, given Cousins’ struggles during the 2024 season.
Despite Cousins’ issues, the Vikings had a successful year, tying for the second-most wins in franchise history with 14.
Sam Darnold also set the NFL record for the most wins by a quarterback in his first season with a new team, adding another impressive milestone to his career.
Both Cousins and the Vikings face uncertainty this offseason. Cousins’ future is up in the air, as it’s unclear where he will play next. Meanwhile, the Vikings have questions of their own, particularly regarding who will be their starting quarterback. Darnold is a free agent, and McCarthy, who was drafted to potentially lead the team, missed his rookie season due to a torn meniscus, leaving his development in question.
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