Falcons GM open to trading Cousins
The Atlanta Falcons are open to trading quarterback Kirk Cousins if all parties are on board, general manager Terry Fontenot told reporters Thursday.
"We will take those (trade requests) as they come. Everyone would have to be good with it, from his camp, his supporters, (Cousins' agent) Mike McCartney, Kirk Cousins, us, the other team, there's a lot of layers to that," the Falcons GM said.
"We have Kirk two years guaranteed. When you do that, you expect high-level play from the position for two seasons. That didn't happen."
Fontenot added that Cousins would back up Michael Penix Jr. moving forward, and the veteran signal-caller has been a "great support" for the rookie quarterback. Penix took over for Cousins in the final three games of the regular season.
The general manager said Cousins was healthy down the regular season's final stretch, but his "play just wasn't there." Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in October 2023 while serving as the Minnesota Vikings' starter before he signed a four-year, $180-million deal with Atlanta in March 2024 as a free agent.
The 36-year-old threw a career-worst 16 interceptions this season across 14 games, tying Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield for the most picks thrown. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris cited Cousins' turnover issues when announcing the change under center.
"We know the cost of doing business at the quarterback position," Fontenot said Thursday.
The Falcons finished 8-9 and second in the NFC South, missing the playoffs.