Despite the desire of Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell to retain him, quarterback Kirk Cousins opted to join the Atlanta Falcons during free agency. Now, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer, we gain insight into why Cousins made this decision. Breer’s post-draft takeaways revealed that Cousins’ departure from Minnesota was partly influenced by the team’s exploration of finding his future successor.
Breer stated, “A reason he decided to leave Minnesota is because the Vikings were very upfront with the 35-year-old about the possibility that, even if he stayed, they’d select a quarterback of the future high in the draft. Tying that together with the team’s willingness to guarantee part, but not all, of a second year on another contract, Cousins figured that, if he stayed, there was a good shot that he’d be on the move in 2025.”
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons in March, including $100 million guaranteed, with $90 million guaranteed in the first two seasons. It’s unclear if Cousins would have stayed with the Vikings if they planned to draft a quarterback in 2024. The Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy 10th overall in the draft, but its impact on Cousins’ return remains uncertain. With Cousins now in Atlanta, concerns about his future after the 2025 season remain. The Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick, hinting at a possible transition to the starting quarterback role. In 2025, Atlanta can trade Cousins, saving $27.5 million in cap space with $12.5 million in dead money, or release him post-June 1, resulting in a $40 million dead cap hit.