Kirk Cousins is leaving for Atlanta.
After reported interest in returning to the Vikings, the 35-year-old Cousins is leaving in free agency to sign with the Falcons, joining Atlanta on a four-year contract that provides a QB-needy team with its answer under center, per his agent Mike McCartney.
Prominent quarterbacks rarely get two cracks at free agency, with teams prioritizing their signal-callers and typically locking them up well ahead of time, but Cousins has shown that making money in the NFL can be an art form.
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The former fourth-round pick cashed in by willingly playing on the franchise tag twice in Washington, and he followed up that decision by signing three fully guaranteed deals with the Vikings.
Now, Cousins is cashing in again -- perhaps for the final time -- in a move that will help settle the quarterback carousel entering the 2024 season.
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Kirk Cousins contract details
- Team: Falcons
- Years: 4
- Value: $180 million
The Falcons have signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The contract also includes $50 million guaranteed, per the report.
Cousins has $90 million in guarantees between 2024 and '25, and then gets another $10 million guaranteed in '26.
Given how quickly the move came together — Cousins agreed to a deal just after the legal tampering period began — the NFL will investigate the situation.
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The average annual value of $45 million per year ties Cousins with Patrick Mahomes for the eighth highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, according to Spotrac.
The Vikings released a statement following Cousins' decision suggesting Minnesota was unwilling to meet the Falcons' offer:
Statement from #Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pic.twitter.com/nbR3z15VLz
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 11, 2024
Already fourth all-time in career NFL earnings, Cousins is set to add to his $231 million total over the next four years. The 35-year-old played on a one-year, $35 million contract in 2023. He previously played out a two-year, $66 million deal and three-year, $84 million deal in Minnesota. All were fully guaranteed.
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Kirk Cousins stats
Cousins didn't become a full-time starter until his fourth NFL season, but he's already 24th all-time in passing yards (39,471) and 20th in touchdown passes (270). He hasn't shown any real signs of decline in recent seasons, though he is coming off a torn Achilles.
Cousins completed 69.5 percent of passes for 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns and 5 interceptions over just eight games in 2023. That put him on pace for 38 touchdowns over a full 17 games, which would have led the league.
Cousins threw for 4,547 yards, 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while leading the Vikings to a 13-4 finish in 2022, and he impressed in 2021 with 33 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in an otherwise shaky season for Minnesota.
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Here is a complete look at Cousins' stats during his six seasons with the Vikings.
| Season | Starts | Record | CMP% | Yards | TD | INT |
| 2018 | 16 | 8-7-1 | 70.1 | 4,298 | 30 | 10 |
| 2019 | 15 | 10-5 | 69.1 | 3,603 | 26 | 6 |
| 2020 | 16 | 7-9 | 67.6 | 4,265 | 35 | 13 |
| 2021 | 16 | 8-8 | 66.3 | 4,221 | 33 | 7 |
| 2022 | 17 | 13-4 | 65.9 | 4,547 | 29 | 14 |
| 2023 | 8 | 4-4 | 69.5 | 2,331 | 18 | 5 |
Kirk Cousins career earnings
Cousins has made $231.7 million across his 12 NFL seasons. He's now set to add at least $100 million to that total.
Cousins ranks fourth all-time in NFL earnings through 2023, behind only Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, and Russell Wilson. All three are still active, so they're moving targets if Cousins wants to end up atop the leaderboard when all is said and done.
Here are the 10 players with the highest career earnings in NFL history through 2023.
| Player | Earnings | Years |
| Aaron Rodgers | $342.5 million | 2005-present |
| Matthew Stafford | $328.3 million | 2009-present |
| Russell Wilson | $266.4 million | 2012-present |
| Kirk Cousins | $231.7 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 |
Kirk Cousins fantasy outlook 2024
Cousins has been a consistent, low-end QB1 since his breakout in Washington, racking up yards and TDs on par with the best pocket passers in the league. Last season, he was the QB7 in fantasy points per game before suffering his torn Achilles in Week 8, and that was despite missing Justin Jefferson for three games. With Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson among his supporting cast, Cousins should have no problem spreading the ball around in OC Zac Robinson's efficient passing offense.
Atlanta ranked tied for 12th in fewest sacks allowed last season (40), which bodes healthy for Cousins' ability to stay in a clean pocket and fire passes to his talented pass-catchers. His ceiling is capped by his lack of mobility, but as long as he's healthy, Cousins should provide steady, starting-caliber numbers for anyone who doesn't like drafting a QB early. — Matt Lutovsky
