by: Brian Jones 01/06/26 brianjones_93
Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons have agreed to modify the final two years of the veteran quarterback’s contract, according to Field Yates of ESPN. This means the Falcons will decide on his future by March 13, the third day of the 2026 NFL league year.
Yates said that part of the restructure includes a guarantee of $67.9 million for the 2027 season that vests on March 13. The restructure also included reducing his 2026 base salary from a non-guaranteed $35 million to just $2.1 million. This doesn’t impact any guaranteed money already owed to Kirk Cousins.
It’s possible that the Cousins and Atlanta could agree to another restructure to his contract, but Yates believes the Falcons are moving on from him before March 13 via a post-June 1 release. If that happens, the dead money on Cousins’ contract would be split over the 2026 and 2027 league years, which would create salary cap flexibility on June 2. And with Cousins agreeing to reduce his base salary for next season, the Falcons will have immediate cap flexibility.