NFL Analysis
12/18/24
6 min read
2025 NFL Free Agency: Top Potential Landing Spots for Falcons QB Kirk Cousins
The Kirk Cousins experience in Atlanta might already be over, but there are a handful of NFL teams who would kick the tires on the 36-year-old quarterback if he's available this offseason.
After giving Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract last offseason, the Atlanta Falcons haven't gotten the version of the former Commanders and Vikings quarterback they were hoping for. Things have looked exceptionally bleak during the last five weeks, with Cousins throwing just one touchdown and nine interceptions while going 1-4.
The late-season collapse has the Falcons at risk of missing the playoffs, leading head coach Raheem Morris to bench Cousins in favor of first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. going forward.
The move could signal the end of Cousins' time in Atlanta despite having three more years left on his deal. The Falcons could take the Russell Wilson-Broncos approach and take a $65 million dead cap hit, especially if Penix shows enough in the final three games to be the future starter.
If that happens, a few quarterback-needy teams will still be giving Cousins a call. Let's take a look at a few of those landing spots.
2025 Kirk Cousins Landing Spots
New York Giants 
Assuming that Cousins still wants to be a starting quarterback, there aren't a lot of ideal landing spots. At least with the New York Giants, Cousins would have the chance to be a starter early on, depending on what they plan to do in the 2025 NFL Draft.
If the season ended today, the Giants would have the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. That would lead fans to assume that they'll go after a quarterback, especially after parting ways with former first-round pick Daniel Jones.
However, this quarterback class isn't loaded like in previous years, and a player like Cam Ward might need a few extra weeks of preparation once in the NFL to get comfortable.
Cousins could go into New York to be the early starter for the Giants while their rookie quarterback gets acclimated, then serve as a mentor to help that young player learn what it takes to be a long-term starter.
Tennessee Titans
Will Levis can't stay healthy, and even when he is, the former second-round pick isn't doing a good enough job of taking care of the football to be considered a long-term starter.
Unfortunately for the Tennessee Titans, they may not be drafting high enough to get one of the top two quarterbacks in this class, and there doesn't seem to be another going pro worth such a high draft pick.
Cousins could come in on a short-term deal to settle things down a bit in Tennessee. A veteran with a resume that includes four Pro Bowls could be a calming presence for the rest of the offense and allow the front office to evaluate their roster more easily before making any decisions on a full-on rebuild.
Instead of hitting the reset button in 2025, the Titans could sign a stop-gap veteran like Cousins to see what they have before going after a quarterback in the 2026 draft.
Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson is simply too talented for the Indianapolis Colts to give up on him. However, it's important that the franchise has a stable presence as a backup quarterback to fill in when the need arises.
Joe Flacco held down that role fairly well, at least earlier in 2024. He's played in six games this season, completing 66.5 percent of his passes for 1,167 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions.
However, with Flacco turning 40 in January, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him hang up the cleats after a remarkable career.
Whether it's due to injuries or being benched for poor play, Richardson is a risk to miss time as the Colts' starting quarterback. That means legitimate playing opportunities for his backup, which could be appealing to Cousins if he's unable to find another landing spot where he's a guaranteed starter.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns seem financially stuck with Deshaun Watson, but that doesn't mean that they have to play him once he's healthy.
Jameis Winston provided a bit of a spark to Cleveland's offense after taking over as the starter, even if the turnovers eventually became too much to handle. Instead of riding with Winston again in 2025, the Browns could look for a different low-cost veteran option to be the starter next season.
Cousins might be the perfect fit for Cleveland. Head coach Kevin Stefanski was actually his offensive coordinator in 2019 for the Minnesota Vikings when Cousins posted a career-high 107.4 passer rating with 3,603 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just six interceptions.
Stefanski understands Cousins' strengths and limitations better than just about any coach in the NFL. That could be exactly what the quarterback needs to find his confidence again as a starting quarterback next season.
Washington Commanders
If Cousins is ready to ride off into the sunset, then going back to where it all began might be a fitting end to his NFL career.
The Washington Commanders took Cousins in the fourth round of the 2012 draft despite taking Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick. The move worked out for both sides, with Cousins eventually taking over as the starter and even earning Pro Bowl honors in 2016 before heading to Minnesota.
While the team is unrecognizable from when Cousins was last there, all the way up to ownership, it could be a great way for him to finish up his NFL career as a backup. The Commanders have found their next franchise quarterback in rookie Jayden Daniels, who is a favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year after a breakout campaign.
Cousins might want to look elsewhere to be a starter or a backup with the potential to get some meaningful playing time. However, if he's ready to embrace a backup role, there isn't a more fitting place for him to wrap up his NFL career than Washington.
