Report: Kirk Cousins' $10M Falcons Roster Bonus to Be Triggered Amid Rumors on Future

In a potential sign that they intend to have him on the roster in 2025, the Atlanta Falcons are reportedly planning to keep quarterback Kirk Cousins past the deadline for payment of his roster bonus.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Cousins' $10 million roster bonus will be realized Saturday at 4 p.m. ET, and the Falcons will not release or trade him before then.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero added that Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot has repeatedly stated his intention to keep Cousins on the roster as a backup to starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Pelissero also noted that Falcons have shown "no motivation" to move Cousins thus far.

Cousins, 36, signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons in free agency last offseason after spending the previous six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

Starting the first 14 games of the season, Cousins went 7-7 in 2024, completing 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and a league-high 16 interceptions.

Following a five-game stretch that saw him go 1-4, while throwing one touchdown pass and nine interceptions, Cousins was benched for the final three games of the season.

Penix, who was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, started the final three games, and he will be the starter entering the 2025 campaign.

Cousins enjoyed enormous success in Minnesota, going 50-37-1 as a starter and completing 67.9 percent of his passing attempts for 23,265 yards, 171 touchdowns and 55 picks en route to three Pro Bowl selections.

However, a torn Achilles ended Cousins' 2023 season after eight games, and it is fair to wonder if he wasn't 100 percent amid his struggles in 2024.

Despite Fontenot's insistence that he is fine with Cousins as his backup in 2025, rumors and speculation regarding his availability have persisted.

On Friday, ESPN's Marc Raimondi reported that Cousins is not "completely unavailable," which suggests Atlanta would consider moving him for the right price.

While most teams have already filled their need at quarterback this offseason, there are a few that could still benefit from adding a veteran starter, such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and Vikings.

A return to Minnesota would perhaps make the most sense for Cousins due to his familiarity with the franchise and the idea that he could be a temporary starter while mentoring 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.

Atlanta paying out Cousins' bonus probably makes a trade even more unlikely than it was previously, though, meaning Cousins may have to settle for being an insurance policy and mentor for Penix in 2025.