How much will Kirk Cousins, who signed a $180 million contract, make if Falcons decide to release him after this season?

Kirk Cousins signed a four-year deal worth $180 million with the Falcons with a yearly salary of $45 million.

How much will Kirk Cousins, who signed a $180 million contract, make if Falcons decide to release him after this season?

Kirk Cousins (Image via Open Source)

The recent string of disappointing performances by Kirk Cousins has forced the Atlanta Falcons’ hand. The team signed him hoping he would serve as an able leader and turn the fate of this offense around. However, that has not been the result.

Now that Kirk Cousins has been benched for Michael Penix Jr. the question is if the Falcons will look to trade the veteran in the off-season. To answer this question, there is a need to understand the breakdown of Cousins’ current contract.

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According to Spotrac, the quarterback’s four-year deal is worth $180 million. The deal’s AAU (Average Annual Value) is $45 million, and Cousins will receive $100 million in guaranteed money. Atlanta has already paid him $62 million, $50 million of which was his signing bonus and $12.5 million as his base salary. He carries a cap hit of $25 million and a dead cap value of $90 million this year.

Kirk Cousins can be traded to another team after the season ends

If the Atlanta Falcons were to decide on trading Cousins after the season ends then it would not have as adverse of an impact on their salary cap as they would have by releasing him. The quarterback has a no-trade clause in his contract which means in order for a trade to go through, the Falcons would require Cousins to approve of the destination.

Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins (Image via Open Source)

Assuming a deal does work itself out with another team, the Falcons will take a cap hit of $37.5 million for the next season but if they opted to release him, the cap hit would amount to $65 million, which is far worse. That is a huge amount to give up after just one season with Kirk Cousins.

There is another reason why a trade scenario benefits the Falcons, in this way the team will get something in return, most likely a draft pick that they can capitalize on. A trade scenario works out best for all parties involved.

How would a trade impact Kirk Cousins’ $180 million deal?

In the event of a trade, the team that he lands up on will be accountable to pay him the rest of his guaranteed money. The sum would come up to $37.5 million and comprises his fully guaranteed $27.5 million salary for the 2025 season and a $10 million roster bonus for 2026.

Realistically that works out to be a good deal for the team that drafts Cousins. To get a veteran for that amount is a steal. However, the right question to be asking here is, ‘Would any team be interested in taking a chance on Kirk Cousins after what they’ve seen from him this season?’

The quarterback will have made $62.5 million from his time with the Falcons, one-third of his total contract value. The Falcons will be reluctant to make a hasty decision on Kirk Cousins. The team is testing the options available at its disposal by starting Michael Penix Jr., and this should not be interpreted as them having given up on their veteran quarterback. One thing is certain, and that is his job is on the line as the season winds down.