Kirk Cousins landing spots after Falcons benching as surprise option emerges

Kirk Cousins time in Atlanta may be over before it ever really began .

The Falcons began the season soaring high after winning six out of their first nine games, but have taken a nosedive in recent weeks - going 1-4 over their last five contests.

During that period, Cousins has thrown one touchdown compared to nine interceptions en route to leading the NFL with 16 picks thrown.

On the heels of the Falcons latest victory - an ugly 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football - Falcons head coach Raheem Morris named rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

the starter for Sundays game against the New York Giants .

The decision to bench Cousins was somewhat unexpected, given the Falcons signed him to a four-year, $180 million contract over the offseason.

But the veteran quarterback has failed to live up to the lucrative deal in the 2024-25 campaign, completing 303-of-453 passes for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns.

FOX NFL Sunday star Michael Vick agrees to first head coach role in college football Kirk Cousins shows true colors to Michael Penix Jr.

after Falcons benching "It's pro football, and there's a standard that I have for myself, that the team has for me, that, unfortunately, I wasn't playing up to that standard consistently enough," Cousins told reporters on Wednesday in his first public comments since the quarterback switch.

"And so, it is what it is, and you roll with it and now you still get ready - 'one play away' kind of a thing - and support Mike and just try to help our team be able to find a way to win these last three to get in the playoffs, and that's what it's all about." Should Penix impress under center, the Falcons will likely have no other choice but to release or trade Cousins over the offseason.

Below, Mirror U.S.

Sports looks at three potential landing spots for the 36-year-old.

Follow us on X for the best and latest in sports news Per Tankathon , the Raiders boast the No.

1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft entering Week 16, with many pundits penciling them in to take one of Colorados Shedeur Sanders or Miamis Cam Ward.

That isnt to say, however, that Las Vegas couldnt use a veteran quarterback like Cousins next year.

The Raiders current quarterback room leaves much to be desired, with Aidan O'Connell, Desmond Ridder, Carter Bradley and Gardner Minshew - whos out for the season with a broken collarbone - rounding out the group.

In trading for Cousins, Las Vegas would be acquiring a stopgap signal-caller who can start under center until a rookie quarterback is ready.

The Will Levis experiment has seemingly reached an unceremonious end after the 25-year-old was benched in favor of Mason Rudolph 11 games into the season.

Should first-year head coach Brian Callahan want more continuity at the sports most important position next year, he could look to bring in a proven veteran like Cousins.

Unless the Titans decides to select a project quarterback in the draft, Cousins will have little competition for the starting job - which may be enough of a reason for him to waive his no-trade clause.

It wasnt long ago that the Colts took a flyer on a decorated quarterback in the twilight of his career, acquiring Matt Ryan in a trade with the Falcons in March of 2022.

Though the 2016 MVP never seemed to gain his footing in Indianapolis, general manager Chris Ballard could be swayed to make a similar deal with Atlanta this offseason.

Given the short leash that second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson is already on, the Colts could benefit from having Cousins as a high-end backup who can immediately slot in under center if called upon.

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