Fourteen rookie quarterbacks were drafted. How does the market look now?
Terrin Waack
Disclaimer: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Yet another offseason tentpole event has passed, and quarterback Kirk Cousins remains on the Atlanta Falcons' roster.
Though it's an ongoing process, and the market is still open, the busiest period of free agency came and went back in March. The Falcons havesigned or re-signed 23 players12 defensive, nine offensive and two specialists.
The draft, meanwhile, is over. The Falconsbrought in five rookiesfour defensive and one offensive. The NFL at large drafted 14 quarterbacks out of the 2025 prospect class, which could further affect the market for Cousins along with previous free agency moves.
"The more this goes, I kind of think he's going to be the Falcons backup," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport saidMonday on the Pat McAfee Show."Which, like, there's no source in that because the Falcons have told us this from the beginning. It's just that we kind of didn't believe them."
All of the Falcons' leaders team owner Arthur Blank, general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris have maintained the same stance on Cousins' status in Atlanta since the 2024 season concluded: They are comfortable with Cousins remaining on the roster and being Michael Penix Jr.'s backup.
None of them have wavered in that sentiment.
The receipts prove as much:
- On Jan. 9,in his end-of-season press conference, Fontenot said: "He's not the starter anymore, but we're very comfortable moving forward with (Cousins) as a backup."
- On Feb. 25, at the 2025 NFL Combine, Fontenot said: "Now that he's the backup, when we say we're comfortable, we're talking about the total funds allocated to the quarterback position. That's already baked in."
- On April 1,at the Annual League Meeting, Morris said: "We do know that he would like to start. We're just telling you that we're very comfortable with him being our backup because of who the human is and who the man is."
- Also on April 1, at the Annual League Meeting, Blank said: "We've already paid him. So, yeah, I'm not sure what the question is," along with, "We owe it to our fan base, the franchise, to make sure we have a backup quarterback who can step in and play."
- On April 23,in his annual pre-draft press conference, Fontenot said: "If we get an offer on any player, we have to look at it and say, 'Is this going to help our team? Is this for the betterment of our team?' And then we'll do it. With Kirk or anyone else, it comes down to that."
That basically brings the Falcons to the present, dealing with the result of the draft and a quarterback with a no-trade clause who wants to be traded.
As previously stated, 14 quarterbacks were selected during the draft: two on Thursday in Round 1, three on Friday in Rounds 2-3 and nine on Saturday in Rounds 4-7. The first-rounders were Cam Ward at No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans and Jackson Dart at No. 25 overall to the New York Giants.
Neither the Titans nor Giants were ever externally reported as a possible landing spot for Cousins, though. TheMinnesota Vikings,Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh SteelersandNew Orleans Saintswere.
Well, the Vikings and Browns both gained two quarterbacks apiece since the draft began.
The Vikings added Sam Howell through a trade with the Seattle Seahawks and signed Max Brosmer as an undrafted free agent. That leaves them with Howell, Brosmer, Brett Rypien and J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota.
The Browns drafted Dillon Grabriel at No. 94 in the third round and Shedeur Sanders at No. 144 in the fifth round. They join Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Deshaun Watson in Cleveland.
The Steelers and Saints weren't as active, but each brought a rookie quarterback in.
The Steelers drafted Will Howard at No. 185 in the sixth round. They now have him, Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. The problem with Pittsburgh, though, is the Steelers and free agent Aaron Rodgers have beenengaged in conversationsfor a long time now. The Steelers are reportedly confident a decision will come soon, andthat decision could place Rodgers in Pittsburgh.
The Saints drafted Tyler Shough at No. 40 in the second round, putting him, Derek Carr, Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler in New Orleans. The reason the Saints are arguably in the market for a starting quarterback is because ofCarrs shoulder injury. They clearly have options, though, that reaching out to an NFC South rival may not be worth the discourse.
So, where does that leave Cousins? In Atlanta for the foreseeable future. The 36-year-old veteran did show up tovoluntary workouts last week.
"You take it day by day, you take it step by step," Morris said about the Cousins' situation. "I think he's done a great job of coming in, being with his team, being a part of us, and that's what he's got to do right now until we figure out whatever else could happen."
There's really no rush at this point. Everything is voluntary for Cousins including Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on May 27-28, 30 and June 2-3, 5 until mandatory minicamp from June 10-11. And there's not really a deadline for the whole situation, either.
In the meantime, the Falcons will keep a finger on the league's pulse as the offseason progresses into preseason.
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