The Atlanta Falcons were and are reluctant to make things easy for Kirk Cousins in a possible trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers or any other team. According to a report by Dan Graziano, owner Arthur Blank does not want to give the player away after paying him $100 million guaranteed.
âSo why didnât the Falcons cut bait here? Stubbornness likely had something to do with it. They signed Cousins for $100 million in guaranteed money 14 months ago, and team ownership wasnât thrilled about the idea of releasing him after doling out all that money for 14 not-so-great games in 2024. And when it came time to talk trade, the Falcons were asking interested teams to pay a significant portion of that remaining $37.5 million in guaranteed money. That meant those teams werenât offering the Falcons a return that Atlanta deemed worthwhile.â
That was the key factor in the Falcons not trading Cousins before or during the draft, and moving forward, it will remain the main issue for any team interested in him. In the case of the Steelers, Kirk has been mentioned as an alternative in case Aaron Rodgers doesnât end up playing in Pittsburgh.
What team did Kirk Cousins get traded to?
Kirk Cousins is still a member of the Falcons because Atlanta refuses to trade him. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers remain a potential option, although, according to Graziano, the major issue is that they would have to agree to absorb a large portion of his salary, which would complicate any deal.
âCousins could still end up traded before the season. If Aaron Rodgers decides he doesnât want to play for the Steelers, Pittsburgh could get interested. If another teamâs starter gets hurt in minicamp or training camp, a fresh market could emerge. But given the way the offseason has gone, itâs probably time we took the Falcons at their word when they say theyâre fine keeping Cousins as the backup in 2025.â
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