The Falcons began voluntary OTAs on Tuesday without their $180 million quarterback.
Kirk Cousins was not in attendance for this phase of offseason activities, head coach Raheem Morris confirmed, as the 36-year-old signal caller looks to start elsewhere in 2025 after losing the top job to then-rookie Michael Penix Jr. last season.
“I did not see him today,” Morris said in Tuesday’s press conference, per Pro Football Talk. “[H]e did not show up in the meetings, so I did not see him today.”
Cousins is about 14 months removed from signing a four-year, $180 million pact with the Falcons that includes a no-trade clause and is worth $100 million guaranteed.
Although Cousins upgraded Atlanta’s QB room last spring, Falcons brass took things a step further in April 2024 when they selected quarterback Penix with the eighth overall pick in the draft.
The Falcons went 7-7 under Cousins before he was benched for Penix, 25, entering Week 16.
Atlanta finished the year at 8-9 and missed the playoffs.
With Cousins looking to start anew, Morris, entering his second season at the helm, maintained in April that the team is open to the best opportunity for both parties.
“This is not a thing where we’re holding [Cousins] back if the opportunity [for a trade] presents itself,” Morris said at the annual league meetings last month. “If it’s something that’s good for both of us — it’s good for the Falcons and Kirk Cousins — we certainly would like to see that happen.”
At that time, Morris also surmised Cousins would likely stay away from voluntary workouts in the absence of a resolution.
“I’m not going to be foolish to think that he’s going to show up for voluntary work right now,” Morris said. “We’re dealing with a business-type mode right now. I don’t think he’ll be there. If he is, we’ll welcome him with open arms. But I’m not going to be fool enough to make myself get worked up and angry about Kirk Cousins missing voluntary workouts.”
Cousins carries a $40 million cap hit for 2025 and a dead cap hit of $75 million, per Spotrac. His $10 million roster bonus for 2026 became guaranteed in March.
Though Cousins’ options appear to be limited, the veteran is said to be on the Steelers’ radar in the event their Aaron Rodgers pursuit collapses.
“So Rodgers Plan A, Kirk Cousins could be a viable Plan B,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said on “SportsCenter” recently. “After making some calls today, I do believe he’s been on their radar. If something were to fall through with Rodgers, certainly they could reconvene, call Atlanta, and see if they could shake something out. But right now, Rodgers is their guy.”
Rodgers, who remains Pittsburgh’s top target this offseason, has not yet made a decision about his football future as he tends to personal matters.
Last week, the four-time league MVP disclosed someone close to him is grappling with cancer.
Rodgers, 41, spent two unremarkable seasons with the Jets.
