NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan gave a blunt assessment of Kirk Cousins this season after Michael Penix Jr., the Falcons' first-round pick, took over as starter on Sunday.

While many believe veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is on the verge of being released by the Atlanta Falcons this offseason, some are wondering if the

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reviews the various factors and the possible outcomes at play as the Atlanta Falcons proceed with a succession plan from Kirk Cousins to Michael Penix Jr.

The Kirk Cousins fiasco for the Atlanta Falcons led to a $180 million decision, and the winner was Michael Penix Jr. and the Falcons. So far.

Cousins is owed $27.5 million guaranteed in 2025, but the Falcons can spread out his post-2024 salary cap hits by designating him a post-June 1 release. Such a move after the 2024

Ian Rapoport suggested in a recent article that the Falcons could keep QB Kirk Cousins as a backup for the 2025 season.

Now, mere days after Cousins was sent to the bench, ESPN 's Adam Schefter reported that the Falcons are expected to cut Cousins before a $10 million roster bonus is due in March. Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal to join the Falcons this past March, a contract which included $100 million guaranteed.

At quarterback, the Falcons might go from cooked to cooking. In the midst of a race for the NFC South title, with three games left, Atlanta finally acknowledged that rookie Michael Penix Jr. offers a better chance to win than the quarterback the team gave  $100 million in guaranteed money last March,

If the Atlanta Falcons want to recoup something in an offseason trade for Kirk Cousins rather than simply release him after he was benched in favor of

Cousins, who is in the first season of a four-year, $180 million contract that included $90 million guaranteed at signing, was benched by the Falcons on Tuesday.

Despite his benching, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins strongly supported rookie passer Michael Penix Jr. in Sunday's win over the New York Giants.