Falcons HC Says Kirk Cousins Situation Is 'Less Dramatic' Than Perceived amid Rumors

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris thinks the outside perception of Kirk Cousins' status with the team is very different than the reality inside the team's facilities.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday at the start of mandatory minicamp, Morris said Cousins' situation is "less dramatic" within the organization than how fans and the media perceive it.

Cousins, who skipped OTAs, certainly took a lot of drama out of the equation on Tuesday by showing up for mandatory minicamp.

As the Falcons continue to prepare Michael Penix Jr. to be their No. 1 quarterback, Cousins has been hoping for a chance to start in 2025. Morris told reporters in April that the four-time Pro Bowler made it known he wants to be a starter and could be willing to waive his no-trade clause, but they hadn't reached the point where those conversations were happening.

The Falcons have said they are comfortable going into the season with Cousins as their backup. There is a scenario that makes sense for them to keep him as an insurance policy if Penix doesn't play up to expectations.

Early returns from OTAs about Penix were generally positive, though his accuracy was inconsistent. That holds true with what scouting reports said about him coming out of Washington.

There's still a lot of time until the start of the season for things to change and a potential opening that would give Cousins an opportunity to start. Quarterbacks might get injured or young players may not be as far in their development as teams would prefer going into the regular season.

Cousins' no-trade clause does complicate matters because he can dictate where he goes, but if his only goal is to find a starting spot, he might not care about the landing spot if the Falcons decide they want to move on.