thelesterlee
The Atlanta Falcons desperately needed a quarterback. They’ve had a new guy behind center each of the last 3 seasons. Matt Ryan gave them 7 wins. Marcus Mariota gave them 7 wins. Desmond Ridder gave them 7 wins. Atlanta just wanted a professional quarterback capable of winning more than 7 games in a season. Suddenly, Kirk Cousins arrived at the facility in a ski mask and an empty briefcase.
The #Falcons are signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract that includes a $50M signing bonus, per sources.
Another monster payday for Cousins, who gets $100 guaranteed — $90M in 2024 and ‘25, plus another $10M in 2026 — and a fresh start in Atlanta at age 35. pic.twitter.com/NkFNMzSjF5
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 11, 2024
On paper, it makes sense to take out a second mortgage on the house to sign Kirk Cousins. In 2022, 34-year-old Kirk Cousins had the best season of his career.
Here’s what Cousins did in 2022:
- 4,547 passing yards
- 29 touchdowns
- 92.5 passer rating
- 8 4th quarter comebacks
- 13-4 record
Astronomically more productive than any of the QBs Atlanta has auditioned over the years. Last season, Desmond Ridder was dropping the ball left and right like the ball was a burning hot tray he pulled out of the oven with his bare hands.
Will Kirk Cousins save the Atlanta Falcons?
Kirk is better than any of Atlanta’s previous quarterbacks. Here’s more accurate and recently has gotten more confident chucking that thing down the field. He’s entering an offense stuffed with talent. Bijan Robinson has the potential to be the most dynamic running back in the NFL. Kyle Pitts could be the most dynamic tight end in the NFL. Drake London could be a Top 10 receiver if he had just a league-average QB throwing to him.
All you have to do is ignore that Kirk Cousins is almost 40 years old and coming off a TORN ACHILLES. $100 million guaranteed to a guy who was never athletic to begin with and hasn’t been able to walk for a majority of the last 365 days and approaching the final years of his playing career.
The good news is, Atlanta plays in the worst division in the sport where a limping Kirk Cousins can still beat Carolina, New Orleans and Tampa Bay.
The bad news is, Cousins might wheelchair into the first day of practice and look like an old beat-up car with a busted tire the team just spent $100 million on based solely on how awful the previous quarterbacks have been with no foresight of the inevitable disappointment Cousins will provide them.
Justin Fields was available at far less money and with two properly functioning legs. Sam Darnold would’ve cost peanuts as a stopgap as the Falcons drafted a QB in a later round and let him sit for a year.
But nope, Kirk Cousins once again tricks a desperate organization into paying him exorbitant amounts of money for a season that at best, ends in the first round of the playoffs.
Is this Kirk Cousins Atlanta Falcons team a real threat in the NFC? Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee. Let me know if you think Kirk Cousins just got off another heist.
