Kirk Cousins has mastered the art of making money in the NFL.
While he didn't make too much on his rookie contract after Washington made him a fourth-round pick in 2012, Cousins bet on himself in 2016 and played under the franchise tag for two seasons with the franchise. All he did from that point was sign three fully guaranteed contracts with the Vikings.
Cousins has cashed in again during free agency in 2024, inking a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Cousins is guaranteed $100 million in his new deal.
By and large, Cousins' production has matched the salary. While playoff success still eludes the veteran quarterback, he's continued to produce in Minnesota and entered the 2024 season top-25 all-time in both passing yards and touchdowns.
Here's a closer look at Cousins' career earnings and where he now stands all-time.
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Kirk Cousins career earnings
It will come as no surprise that Cousins is among the highest-earning players in NFL history.
Prior to his deal this past offseason, there was a significant gap between the 35-year-old and the top of the list. That's not the case any longer.
Cousins made $231.6 million from NFL contracts through 2023, the fourth-highest mark in NFL history. The only players with more career earnings to that point were Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, and Russell Wilson.
With his Falcons deal guaranteeing $100 million, Cousins now sits second on that list, just behind Rodgers. Of the top four players on the list, Cousins is the only one without a Super Bowl ring.
Here's a look at the all-time NFL career earnings leaders entering 2024.
| Player | Earnings | Years |
| Aaron Rodgers | $342.5 million | 2005-present |
| Kirk Cousins | $331.7 million | 2012-present |
| Matthew Stafford | $328.3 million | 2009-present |
| Russell Wilson | $256.4 million | 2012-present |
| Ryan Tannehill | $196 million | 2012-present |
| Von Miller | $179.3 million | 2011-present |
| Joe Flacco | $175.7 million | 2008-present |
| Trent Williams | $168.7 million | 2010-present |
| Ndamukong Suh | $168.2 million | 2010-22 |
| Derek Carr | $165.7 million | 2014-present |
While Cousins' new contract pushes him above Stafford and Wilson, both players are still active and could earn more money. The same is true of Rodgers, who still retains the top spot on the list.
As the salary cap continues to rise, it won't be long until some of the NFL's younger star quarterbacks move toward the top, as well. For now, though, Cousins has done about as well as anyone at maximizing his value.
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Kirk Cousins contracts
Cousins made less than $1 million in each of his first four NFL seasons, but his salary jumped by more than $19 million when he played on the franchise tag in Washington in 2016. Cousins played on the tag for even more money in 2017 before signing a fully guaranteed three-year, $84 million deal with the Vikings in 2018.
Cousins signed two extensions in Minnesota, both of which were also fully guaranteed. He inked a two-year, $66 million deal that ran through 2022 before signing a one-year, $35 million extension through 2023.
Here's a breakdown of what Cousins has made in each of his 12 NFL seasons, including the payment he is expected to receive for his 13th campaign in 2024.
| Season | Team | Salary |
| 2012 | Washington | $862,688 |
| 2013 | Washington | $480,000 |
| 2014 | Washington | $570,000 |
| 2015 | Washington | $824,007 |
| 2016 | Washington | $20 million |
| 2017 | Washington | $24 million |
| 2018 | Vikings | $26 million |
| 2019 | Vikings | $28 million |
| 2020 | Vikings | $40 million |
| 2021 | Vikings | $21 million |
| 2022 | Vikings | $40 million |
| 2023 | Vikings | $30 million |
| 2024 | Falcons | $62.5 million |
| Total | $294.2 million |
Cousins' new deal with the Falcons will pay him an average salary of $45 million per season.
