Falcons' Kirk Cousins Reportedly Wants QB1 Opportunity Ahead of NFL Trade Deadline

With time running out for NFL teams to make moves ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline, Kirk Cousins reportedly wants another chance to start.

Tyler Dragon of USA Today reported Tuesday the Atlanta Falcons backup quarterback "desires an opportunity to start elsewhere." However, Dragon also noted "no trade appears imminent."

That reported desire for Cousins to start elsewhere makes his performance during Sunday's 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins all the more disappointing for the veteran.

It could have been something of a showcase for the 37-year-old to still prove he can be an effective starter with Michael Penix Jr. sidelined by injury. That the game came against a Dolphins team that entered play with a 1-6 record seemed to set the stage for a vintage performance.

Instead, Cousins went 21-of-31 for 173 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions as the offense failed to generate any rhythm in a blowout loss at home against what figured to be an overmatched opponent on paper.

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Yes, Drake London was sidelined, but Cousins did little to inspire confidence from the Falcons or potential suitors that he could still lead a team to the playoffs at this stage of his career.

There was a time when the Michigan State product was seen in such a light, as he is a four-time Pro Bowler with seven seasons of more than 4,000 passing yards on his resume. While he never won a Super Bowl, he was a reliable option who generated plenty of impressive statistics.

However, he led the league with 16 interceptions in 14 games last season after returning from the Achilles injury that cut short his 2023 campaign. He eventually lost his job to Penix and entered the ongoing season as the backup.

Perhaps Cousins could return to an effective starter if given his own team, but Sunday's showing wasn't an ideal impression to make for teams that might have otherwise been interested.