THE Atlanta Falcons have reportedly made a decision on the future of $180 million quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Cousins, 36, endured a tough first year in Atlanta, going 7-7 before being benched in Week 14 and throwing a joint-league high 16 interceptions.
The Atlanta Falcons have made a decision on Kirk Cousins’ future Michael Penix Jr is the future of the franchiseThat was the joint-highest mark in the NFL – but Baker Mayfield, who also threw 16 interceptions, played three more games and also threw 41 touchdowns to Cousins’ 18.
Vet Cousins – who earns the same annual salary as MVP candidates Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen – also posted his lowest QB rating (88.6) since he was a backup himself with Washington in 2014.
But despite strong rumours in December that he would be cut, the Falcons aren’t intending to release him.
NFL Network insider Cameron Wolfe provided an update on the Falcons QB room – and stated “the Michael Penix era has started.”
But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Cousins is out.
Wolfe said: “I spoke to some key executives in the pre-game and the plan is for Michael Penix to be the starting quarterback.
“Not only next season but for 10 years down the line ideally.
“They feel like they got their guy and yesterday was just confirmation, he balled out.”
The Falcons lost 44-38 to the Carolina Panthers but Penix looked good, throwing two touchdowns and for 312 yards, as well as running in a score of his own.
Wolfe added: “But the next question, what happens to Kirk Cousins?
“He’s under contract, he has some guaranteed money and from what I understand the Falcons are not just going to release him.
“They will listen to teams in regards to trade offers, but they want to get something back from that deal.
“They are willing to bring him back as a backup quarterback if [a trade] doesn’t happen.
“The Michael Penix era has started and we will see if a team this offseason is interested in trading for Kirk Cousins.”
Releasing Cousins would have a a significant impact on Atlanta’s salary cap.
Should they release him before March 16, they’d still owe him $27.5m in guaranteed money and carry a dead cap hit of $65m next season.
If he stays on the roster past March 16 another $10m of bonus money would also become fully guaranteed.
Should they trade him before June 1, the dead cap hit would be reduced and could save at most $27.5m.
Head coach Raheem Morris spoke to Cousins on Monday.
While he did not reveal details of the conversation, he did say: “Obviously, those things will come up in these same discussions.
“We’ll make some of those decisions, obviously, with him, because of his contract status and all the things that he’s talking about.
“So, you just never know, and I think that’s the part of the process we’ll go through right now with him.”
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