Kirk Cousins to Wear No. 18 Falcons Jersey After FA Contract; Kyle Pitts Keeps No. 8

Not only will Kirk Cousins be playing for a new team in 2024, he will also be sporting a new number.

The Atlanta Falcons revealed Monday that Cousins will be wearing No. 18 after signing a four-year deal worth up to $180 million with the franchise in free agency:

Tight end Kyle Pitts currently wears No. 8 for Atlanta.

Pitts has worn No. 8 for the Falcons since being selected by the franchise fourth overall in the 2021 draft out of Florida, where he wore No. 84 for the Gators.

When the Falcons signed Cousins, there were questions about whether Pitts would give up the No. 8, which Cousins wore for four of his six seasons in Washington and each of his six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

Cousins also wore No. 8 in college at Michigan State, but now he gets to carve out a new legacy in the No. 18.

Once news of Cousins' deal with the Falcons broke last week, Pitts was wondering who would continue wearing No. 8 in 2024:

Pitts also posted a photo of himself wearing No. 84 during his college career with the Gators, seemingly indicating that he was considering making the switch back to his old number:

Cousins told reporters a few days later during his introductory press conference with the Falcons that he offered to write Pitts a check to the charity of his choosing in exchange for the No. 8 jersey.

According to Cousins, Pitts joked that all he wanted was "targets every game."

Pitts' comments about receiving more targets came as little surprise after his numbers in that category were limited over the last two seasons under former head coach Arthur Smith. He had 110 targets in 17 games as a rookie but just 149 targets in 27 games over the last two years.

Pitts should be one of Cousins' top targets in 2024 and beyond as he's one of Atlanta's top pass-catchers alongside wide receiver Drake London.

The Falcons are hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season , and Cousins should be able to help get them there alongside new head coach Raheem Morris.