Kirk Cousins Release Poised to Shift Falcons’ Salary Picture, QB Room and the Veteran Free‑Agent Market

Why this matters now: kirk cousins is set to hit the open market on March 11 and that timing — tied to a contract restructure and vesting dates — affects Atlanta’s salary-cap math, Cousins’ options and how teams chase veteran quarterbacks this offseason. The Falcons’ new general manager notified Cousins recently and has said there is no path for a lower‑salary return.

Immediate impact on roster clarity, cap planning and Cousins’ free‑agent status

Ian Cunningham, the Falcons’ new general manager, informed Kirk Cousins recently that the team will release him on the first day of the league year, March 11. Cunningham told local radio he had spoken with Cousins and the player’s agent, Mike McCartney, and that there would not be a window to bring Cousins back at a reduced salary. In a separate exchange with local media at the combine, Cunningham said, “We won’t re‑sign Kirk, ” and framed the timing as a way to give Cousins clarity going into free agency.

The decision and scheduling details

The club will wait until March 11 — the first day of the league year — to make the roster move for salary‑cap reasons. Earlier coverage had set the expectation on Feb. 7 that the Falcons would proceed with a release. Also noted in earlier coverage: the previous Falcons regime restructured Cousins’ contract several months ago; that restructure included a guaranteed amount tied to 2027 that would have vested on March 13. Those timing elements are central to why the release is being executed on the first day of the league year.

Contract mechanics that pushed the move

• The rework guaranteed $67. 9 million for 2027 that would have vested on March 13.
• The restructure reduced Cousins’ 2026 base salary from a nonguaranteed $35 million to $2. 1 million; the change did not alter the guaranteed money but redistributed previously agreed dollars.
• If the Falcons release Cousins with a June 1 designation, the club would save $2. 1 million in 2026 salary-cap charge; the transaction would leave $22. 5 million in dead money in 2026 and $12. 5 million in 2027.

On-field arc and recent performance

Cousins, 37 and a 14‑year veteran, joined Atlanta two years ago on a four‑year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed after the previous team moved on and made other quarterback decisions. The Falcons then drafted Michael Penix Jr. roughly six weeks after signing Cousins, a surprise that changed the room dynamic.

Cousins arrived in Atlanta coming off a torn Achilles suffered in 2023. In 2024 he led the Falcons to a 6‑3 start before an arm injury and a subsequent stretch of five games with nine interceptions. He was benched in Week 16 as the team committed to Penix as the quarterback of the present and future.

In 2025 Cousins returned healthy, but the team entered the year with Penix established as the starter; there was no competition in training camp. Penix then suffered a knee injury in Week 11 described in different items as a torn left ACL and elsewhere as a partially torn ACL; that difference is unclear in the provided context. Cousins started the remainder of the season and closed with a multi‑game winning streak.

Stat lines, totals and some conflicting breakdowns

Contextual figures in the available coverage include several statistical snapshots that are not perfectly aligned. One set lists Cousins’ 2025 numbers as a 61. 7% completion rate for 1, 721 yards, 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, with a 47. 6 QBR that tied him at 22nd in the league. Another breakdown summarizes his Falcons totals across 24 games as 5, 229 yards, 28 touchdowns and 21 interceptions with a 65. 0% completion rate. A separate snapshot framed his late‑season run as 1, 471 yards, 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions during seven final games, and noted Atlanta went 5‑2 with Cousins under center down the stretch. Those differences reflect distinct ways the numbers were compiled; the divergence is developing and not reconciled in the provided context.

• Here’s the part that matters for roster builders: the timing, guarantees and vesting dates create a narrow window for teams that want Cousins without absorbing larger dead‑cap hits.
• He will join a veteran quarterback market that also includes other older, established players who could attract interest — expanding options for teams seeking short‑term starting or bridge solutions.
• Because of how the contract was reshaped, a June 1 designation changes the immediate cap impact but leaves substantial dead money on Atlanta’s books.

Micro timeline embedded in coverage: 2023 — torn Achilles; two years ago — signed a four‑year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed; March 11 — first day of the league year when the Falcons plan to release him; March 13 — the date a 2027 guarantee would have vested. The real question now is whether teams will view Cousins as a short‑term starter or a veteran insurance plan, given the medical and recent performance context.

It’s easy to overlook, but the original contract restructure — not just season results — was the central financial trigger that made a March release likely.

Next practical moves and near‑term signals

Expect Atlanta to execute the release on March 11 and for Cousins to enter free agency. The clearest confirming signals will be his official transaction designation at the start of the league year and whether any team offers a one‑year or short‑term deal that aligns with his 2026 earning expectations. For now, details about interest, offers or a new contract remain unclear in the provided context.