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2w ago

Falcons Confirm Michael Penix Jr. as Starter as Kirk Cousins Remains in Backup Limbo

Locked into a guaranteed contract with a no-trade clause, Cousins cannot secure a trade or release.

Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Atlanta Falcons throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on December 29, 2024 in Landover, Maryland.
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Overview

  • Michael Penix Jr. has been officially named Atlanta’s starting quarterback for the 2025 season following his late-season emergence in 2024.
  • Despite expressing a desire to move on, Kirk Cousins remains on the roster as a $27.5 million backup with no trade partner or release in sight.
  • In Netflix’s Quarterback season 2, Cousins revealed he would have stayed in Minnesota if he’d known Atlanta planned to draft a quarterback early.
  • Penix’s three starts in 2024 featured two 100-yard games by Drake London, highlighting a potent deep-throw connection.
  • Analysts including Matt Ryan and Cam Newton have emphasized the NFL’s business-first approach to quarterback succession decisions.