Getty Image / Michael Owens
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is the hottest name on the free agent quarterback market this offseason. And, it’s for good reasons.
Prior to tearing his Achilles in Week 8 last year Cousins was having a tremendous season for the Minnesota Vikings. There was even some MVP buzz.
The Michigan State product was lighting up NFL defenses. He threw for 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in just eight games. The Vikings had no run game either, and he was without superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson for a few games as well.
Now 35-years-old, Kirk Cousins is set to be a free agent when free agency opens up on March 13. While many expect him to re-sign with the Minnesota Vikings, other teams are surely interested.
One of those teams is the Atlanta Falcons. New head coach Raheem Morris needs an answer at quarterback after last year’s Taylor Heinicke/Desmond Ridder platoon was predictably terrible.
Some interesting nuggets from the Combine in this ESPN+ article.
Thought the most notable was the one on Kirk Cousins and #Falcons. https://t.co/V2sHLO8E0b pic.twitter.com/XpJ2vDJtRu
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) March 3, 2024
On one hand, I think that Kirk Cousins and the Falcons make a lot of sense. The roster is honestly pretty good, and the division is there for the taking.
He would step in and work with great talents at running back (Bijan Robinson), wide receiver (Drake London), and tight end (Kyle Pitts). Plus, the Falcons have one of the league’s better offensive lines, led by Chris Lindstrom. Plus, the defense is solid. And, the NFC is far more open than the AFC when it comes to chances to make a Super Bowl run.
But, it seems to me that maybe the personnel would fit more with a mobile quarterback that could help out in the run game. The Falcons are built to run the football, but Kirk Cousins doesn’t really help much at all there.
That being said, he’d be a definite upgrade over Ridder/Heinicke.