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.
“So why didn’t 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 wasn’t 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 weren’t offering the Falcons a return that Atlanta deemed worthwhile.”
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 doesn’t 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.
“Cousins could still end up traded before the season. If Aaron Rodgers decides he doesn’t want to play for the Steelers, Pittsburgh could get interested. If another team’s starter gets hurt in minicamp or training camp, a fresh market could emerge. But given the way the offseason has gone, it’s probably time we took the Falcons at their word when they say they’re fine keeping Cousins as the backup in 2025.”
see also
NFL News: Aaron Rodgers has reportedly made final decision between Steelers and retirement after 2025 schedule release
