Kirk Cousins Rumors on Contract Restructure, Timeline for Falcons Future

The Atlanta Falcons are set to make a decision about the franchise's future with Kirk Cousins by March 13.

The Falcons and Cousins agreed to a contract restructure that puts the quarterback on track to receive $67.9 million in vesting guarantees for 2027 on that date, ESPN's Field Yates reported Tuesday.

"Given the highly unlikely nature that the Falcons or any team that would acquire Cousins via a trade prior to March 13 would want to be on the hook for that $67.9 million, a decision on Cousins' future could come prior to that date," Yates wrote.

Cousins' contract restructure involved decreasing his 2026 base salary from $35 million to $2.1 million, both of which were non-guaranteed, per Yates.

That $32.9 million difference was then put toward Cousins' 2027 compensation, Yates reported.

Mid-March was likely still a decision deadline for the Falcons regardless of the recent renegotiation. Cousins was previously owed a $10 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year, per Spotrac.

Were Cousins to stay with the Falcons, the franchise could potentially renegotiate another deal in order to avoid what is an untenable 2027 cap hit.

According to Yates, however, that the Falcons could also designate Cousins as a post-June 1 release ahead of the March 13 vested guarantees deadline.

Before the contract negotiation, cutting Cousins with a post-June 1 designation would have cost the Falcons $22.5 million in dead money in 2026 and $12.5 million in 2027, per Over the Cap.

Renegotiating Cousins' contract to lower his 2026 cap hit means the Falcons would now have to pay out less dead money next season, while taking on a larger charge for 2027, should they ultimately decide to cut him.

Cousins started out the season as Atlanta's backup, although he ultimately started eight games and led the Falcons to a 5-3 record while Michael Penix Jr. was sidelined by a knee injury.

The Falcons could ultimately want to keep another quarterback as an option should Penix miss the start of the 2026 campaign while recovering from his ACL injury. Penix underwent surgery with an anticipated nine-month recovery timeline in late November.

Cousins, who will turn 38 ahead of the 2026 season, said after the 2025 campaign he "would like to keep playing."

Whether Cousins ultimately returns for another season in Atlanta could potentially hinge on another contract renegotiation taking place over the next two months.