Kirk Cousins Rumors: Falcons Seen as Open to Throwing QB 'Massive' Contract in NFL FA

The Atlanta Falcons may wind up being the Minnesota Vikings' biggest threat to land free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Dane Brugler of The Athletic reported some around the NFL believe the Falcons could hand Cousins a "massive check" when the free-agency period opens next week.

The Falcons are among the teams expected to make a major investment in upgrading their quarterback position this offseason. The franchise shuffled through Desmond Ridder, Marcus Mariota and Taylor Heinicke over the last two seasons since trading mainstay Matt Ryan in 2022.

Cousins would be an interesting choice to re-fortify the position given he's the exact type of quarterback they tried to move away from in trading Ryan: an aging, immobile veteran. The 35-year-old was having one of his best seasons in 2023 before tearing his Achilles, throwing for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns against five interceptions.

While mobility has never been Cousins' strong suit, it remains to be seen how he will perform after recovering from a catastrophic injury. The Falcons do not appear to have any level of trepidation regarding Cousins if they're willing to lavish him with a long-term deal.

If there is anything we have learned from Cousins' career, it's that he has the ability to land massive contracts. He is already the fourth highest-paid player in NFL history and has the chance to top over $300 million in career earnings with his next contract.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported Cousins is already "seriously considering" moving his family to Atlanta, which would indicate he plans on leaving Minnesota on the open market.