The Atlanta Falcons made an odd decision in the offseason.
Signing Kirk Cousins made sense on paper, but they had to overpay to get him.
Moreover, they also included a no-trade clause in the deal.
If that wasn’t enough, they used their No. 8 pick to get his heir apparent.
Then, they chose to run an offense not built around his strengths.
That’s why it’s unsurprising that they’re now in a tough spot with him.
As Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team on X pointed out, the Falcons’ hands are now tied with him.
Kirk Cousins’ no-trade clause is significant, similar to what Derek Carr did to the Raiders a couple of years ago when he used his clause to say, "You’re not trading me. Cut me. Pay me what you owe. I’ll become a free agent and choose my next destination on my own."
The #Falcons… https://t.co/UNXsNJ7P1p pic.twitter.com/RFVgCWhPCg
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 18, 2024
Now that they’ve decided to bench him, he could take a similar approach to what Derek Carr did to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Simply put, he can refuse to waive his no-trade clause, forcing the Falcons to cut him and pay him the $90 million he will be owed.
He can then sign with the team he wants on a veteran’s minimum contract, just like Russell Wilson did with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Falcons will have to pay Cousins a lot for 14 starts.
The team may have already decided on him, and if they’re not going to change their offensive style, it might be best to just rip the band-aid off and move on.
This is bad business, but Cousins and his agent won’t mind.
As bad as he’s looked this season, he still has a place as a starter in this league, just not in Atlanta.
NEXT: Analyst Rips Falcons, Says Team Is Making A 'Dumb' Move
