Kirk Cousins contract details: What is his salary and how many years does he have left with the Falcons?
Despite doubts about his fitness, the 36-year-old Atlanta Falcons quarterback signed a blockbuster deal ahead of the 2024 season.
Following years of instability at the position, the Atlanta Falcons raised eyebrows in the 2024 off-season by making a major move.
The Falcons brought in veteran QB Kirk Cousins after the expiration of his contract with the Minnesota Vikings, offering him a four-year deal worth $180 million, including $100 million in guaranteed money. Cousins was 35 at the time of signing and will be 39 when the deal expires. His average annual salary of $45 million matched that of three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes.
Initially named the starter for the 2024 season, Cousins’ campaign was cut short late in the year when rookie Michael Penix Jr.—drafted by the Falcons in the first round—took over as starting quarterback in Week 16. With Penix now seen as the franchise’s future under center, Cousins has entered the 2025 season as the backup.
Despite the demotion, Cousins remains under contract with Atlanta, with his 2025 salary of $27.5 million fully guaranteed. In March 2025, the team activated a $10 million roster bonus, further cementing his financial position. His cap hit in 2025 stands at $40 million, with a potential increase to $57.5 million in 2026 if no restructuring occurs.
Now entering the second year of his deal, Cousins has publicly accepted his role behind Penix while remaining ready to step in if needed. Though trade rumors have surfaced, he remains a Falcon—for now.
Is Kirk Cousins still recovering from an Achilles injury?
Cousins suffered a torn Achilles in October 2023, forcing him to miss most of his last season for the Vikings. His season opening for the Falcons was his first competitive game in ten months and there have been questions raised about the decision to limit his playing time in preseason.
Nevertheless Falcons coach Raheem Morris has insisted that the quarterback is ready to go for the new season.
“I feel like Kirk Cousins is healthy,” Morris said. “He’s been healthy since he’s been here, since he’s been back. Obviously, the restrictions we put on him when he first got here, being smart with the OTA days. Training camp, he was full go and able to move other than the scrambles and some of those things we limited.
“Towards the end of training camp, we allowed those things to happen, got him ready to go. We got to a game [Sunday], and we’ve got to get better,” he added.
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