2. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
At his best, Kirk Cousins was a borderline top-10 quarterback who could have thrived in this offensive environment. Those days are likely gone, as Cousins looked like a shell of himself with the Atlanta Falcons last year and lost his starting job midway through his first season with the club. Even if he is a shell of his former self, he’s still probably better than Jake Browning.
The hardest part to figure out is the money. Cousins is on a massive contract, and Atlanta will need to eat a sizable portion of the guaranteed figure to ship him out of town. Cousins is a fine backup, and the Bengals only need someone to hold down starting duties for the next two to three months. Frankly, there are better and less cost-prohibitive short-term options available.
Jan 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) talks to Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) and quarterback Andy Dalton (14) after the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images