The scent of freshly cut grass and the crack of a baseball bat signal spring’s return. But in Atlanta, the buzz isn’t about Opening Day. It’s about Kirk Cousins—the quarterback who’s become as polarizing as a rain delay in the bottom of the ninth. Like a diner holding the last slice of pecan pie, the Falcons are weighing whether to savor Cousins or pass the plate. Meanwhile, whispers swirl like fireflies in a Georgia twilight.
Picture a dusty pickup truck with a bumper sticker that reads “Honk If You’ve Been Franchise Tagged.” Cousins knows that ride. From Washington’s understudy to Minnesota’s $84 million man, his career has been a blue-collar anthem. Now, Atlanta holds his leash. But why keep a thoroughbred in the stable when the derby’s heating up? And there enters Josina Anderson, the league’s late-night DJ, spinning rumors into headlines.
Atlanta’s asking price? A third-round pick. “The offseason Carousel continues to churn,” Anderson tweeted, her words sharp as a linebacker’s cleats. Cousins, 36, isn’t just a name—he’s a Rorschach test. To some, he’s a Pro Bowl relic. To others, a bridge quarterback with playoff grit. The Falcons, though, are playing poker.
Evening Notes: The offseason Carousel continues to churn.
I was just told these two quarterback names came up in recent preliminary* trade inquiries or internal discussions, per a league source: Kirk Cousins and Will Levis.
“Atlanta has been getting calls.”
(I heard talk of a… pic.twitter.com/fxBfHDiada
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 19, 2025
By keeping Cousins past Saturday’s deadline, they swallowed a $10 million roster bonus like a bitter pill. Now, they’re betting someone will ante up. But here’s the hitch: Cousins’ contract…
$27.5 million in 2025.
That’s not couch cushion money—it’s a cap-space gut punch. Teams like Pittsburgh, lurking like catfish in a murky pond, might bite if Atlanta swallows some salary. However, Kirk Cousins’ 2024 stats—18 touchdowns, 16 picks—aren’t exactly sizzling like a Fourth of July grill. Is a third-rounder worth the gamble?
Meanwhile, out west, the Rams made a quieter splash. Former Falcons linebacker Nate Landman, a Raheem Morris disciple, joined Sean McVay’s squad. It’s like swapping a Waffle House regular for In-N-Out—different flavors, same hunger.
The Rams’ chess move: Landman joins McVay’s defense amid the Cousins drama
Landman’s 81 tackles last year? Solid as a redwood. But his coverage skills? Let’s just say they’re still in beta mode. Besides, his signing isn’t headline fireworks—it’s a sparkler. At 26, he’s a run-stuffing journeyman with a chip on his shoulder. The Rams, thin at linebacker after losing Christian Rozeboom, need grit, not glitz.
Landman’s 85.4 PFF run-defense grade in 2023? That’s country strong. But his 144.0 QB rating when targeted? Yikes! Still, McVay’s scheme—a cousin to Morris’ playbook—fits like an old glove. Now, back to Cousins.
The Falcons’ calculus hinges on desperation. With Aaron Rodgers waffling and Russell Wilson washed, Cousins is a life raft in a quarterback monsoon. But Atlanta’s leverage? Fragile as a porcelain bulldog. A third-round pick buys a lottery ticket.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 19: Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay looks on during the NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams on January 19th, 2025 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA JAN 19 NFC Divisional Playoff – Rams at Eagles EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon25011921
But not a franchise savior. Yet in a league where Sam Darnold fetched a second-rounder, maybe Cousins is a bargain. So, what’s next? If the draft were a John Grisham novel, Day 2 would be the plot twist…
Pittsburgh could pivot from Rodgers to Cousins, or Atlanta might fold, settling for a fourth-rounder. As Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” For Kirk Cousins, belief is currency. Does Pittsburgh—or another QB-starved team—still trust his arm? Or will Atlanta’s gamble crumble like a stale biscuit? The answer awaits.
Question for the crowd: In a league obsessed with youth, is a 36-year-old QB worth a third-round pick—or just a relic of a bygone era?
The post National Reporter Confirms Falcons’ Asking Price for Kirk Cousins After Raheem Morris’ LB Joined Sean McVay’s Rams appeared first on EssentiallySports.
