Overview

• Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame suggested Atlanta send Cousins to Cincinnati for a conditional fifth-round pick, echoing broader media speculation rather than any reported negotiations.
• Cincinnati’s offense has sputtered since Joe Burrow’s Week 2 turf toe injury, with Jake Browning’s two starts producing 13 total points and a 1–3 start, intensifying calls to explore veteran help.
• Atlanta has stayed committed to Michael Penix Jr., and Cousins has scarcely played in 2025 after being benched late last season, yet the team has shown limited interest in moving him absent the right offer.
• Cousins’ contract remains the central hurdle, with a four-year, $180 million deal that includes a 2025 base of about $27.5 million and would require an acquiring team to absorb significant, pro-rated salary.
• NFL.com’s Kevin Patra identified draft capital as Atlanta’s top need before the deadline, with Cousins labeled the obvious trade chip as he functions as the league’s highest-paid backup during the Falcons’ bye week.