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The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and no team has committed more resources to the position than the Atlanta Falcons over the last two offseasons. The team signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract at the start of the 2024 free agency period, then used the No. 8 pick in the draft to select Michael Penix Jr.
Cousins got off to a decent start last season, leading the Falcons to a 6-3 record before suffering an arm injury during a Week 11 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The 36-year-old attempted to play through it, but his velocity and accuracy dropped off significantly.
The Falcons went on a four-game losing streak, and even though they stopped the bleeding with a prime-time win over Desmond Ridder and the Las Vegas Raiders, Cousins was benched after the game.
Atlanta went with Penix for the rest of the season and the results were impressive enough for him to keep the job entering 2025. That leaves Cousins as the backup, assuming he's still on the roster next season.
So where does the 13-year veteran rank among the league's second-string quarterbacks? SI.com's Gilberto Manzano ranked the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL and Cousins was listed at No. 1:
The Falcons could opt to release Cousins, but that wouldn't only serve to hurt the team. Plus, it would create a need for another backup quarterback, costing Atlanta even more money this season.
The best option for the team is to trade Cousins, however, that's easier said than done. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings have been listed as potential landing spots for the veteran QB.
ESPN released a new feature that examines four theoretical trade scenarios for Cousins in the Falcons. In two of these projected trades, Atlanta was able to land a late-round pick and a potential backup quarterback (Kenny Pickett and Sam Howell).
Ultimately, if Cousins returns, it's more than fair to say he would be the best backup quarterback in the league. The situation wouldn't be ideal but appears to be a strong possibility at this point.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons News: Kirk Cousins ranked NFL's best backup QB in 2025
Continue reading...
Cousins got off to a decent start last season, leading the Falcons to a 6-3 record before suffering an arm injury during a Week 11 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The 36-year-old attempted to play through it, but his velocity and accuracy dropped off significantly.
The Falcons went on a four-game losing streak, and even though they stopped the bleeding with a prime-time win over Desmond Ridder and the Las Vegas Raiders, Cousins was benched after the game.
Atlanta went with Penix for the rest of the season and the results were impressive enough for him to keep the job entering 2025. That leaves Cousins as the backup, assuming he's still on the roster next season.
So where does the 13-year veteran rank among the league's second-string quarterbacks? SI.com's Gilberto Manzano ranked the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL and Cousins was listed at No. 1:
The Falcons could opt to release Cousins, but that wouldn't only serve to hurt the team. Plus, it would create a need for another backup quarterback, costing Atlanta even more money this season.
The best option for the team is to trade Cousins, however, that's easier said than done. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings have been listed as potential landing spots for the veteran QB.
ESPN released a new feature that examines four theoretical trade scenarios for Cousins in the Falcons. In two of these projected trades, Atlanta was able to land a late-round pick and a potential backup quarterback (Kenny Pickett and Sam Howell).
Ultimately, if Cousins returns, it's more than fair to say he would be the best backup quarterback in the league. The situation wouldn't be ideal but appears to be a strong possibility at this point.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons News: Kirk Cousins ranked NFL's best backup QB in 2025
Continue reading...
