Kirk Cousins' Expected Release Confirmed by Falcons GM, Timeline for Move Revealed Ahead of NFL FA

Confirming previous reports, the Atlanta Falcons announced on Tuesday they will release Kirk Cousins.

Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham told reporters that after discussions with Cousins and Cousins' agent, the club will release the veteran quarterback on the first day of the new league year on March 11.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Feb. 7 that Cousins was expected to be released before the start of the new league year.

Making the move after the start of the league year, which Cunningham said the Falcons will do, allows the team to designate Cousins as a post-June 1 release if they choose to do so.

A post-June 1 designation would allow the Falcons to spread out his $35 million dead cap hit over the next two seasons, with $22.5 million going on their books in 2026. They will only save $2.1 million against the cap this year in that scenario, but they would lose $10.4 million in cap space if he were to be released prior to June 1.

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Cousins and the Falcons restructured his contract in January to guarantee him $67.9 million in 2027 if he were to remain on the roster on March 13. The move did not impact any of the guaranteed money he was already owed.

When Cousins' release becomes official, he will join a very interesting crop of free-agent quarterbacks this offseason. Aaron Rodgers, Malik Willis, Daniel Jones and Russell Wilson are among the other notable names who will be available.

The group could also expand to include Kyler Murray and/or Tua Tagovailoa depending on whether or not their current teams decide to move in a different direction and can't find a trade partner.

Cousins, who will turn 38 on Aug. 19, started eight games for the Falcons in 2025. He threw for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 total appearances last season.

The Falcons went 12-10 in Cousins' 22 starts over the past two seasons. He originally joined the team on a four-year, $180 million contract as a free agent in March 2024.