Feb. 2, 2026, 5:31 a.m. ET

The Atlanta Falcons are going into another offseason with a quarterback to spare. Head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t make any major declarations during his introductory press conference, but his comments seemed to suggest that the Falcons are moving forward with Michael Penix Jr.

That leaves Kirk Cousins in a similar position to the one he found himself in last offseason. However, as Cousins enters Year 3 of the four-year, $180 million deal that he signed with the team in 2024, his remaining contract is less of an albatross.

We don’t anticipate Cousins returning to Atlanta in 2026, and while some assume the team will release him, don’t rule out a trade. CBS Sports published a feature breaking down the best fit for each available quarterback in 2026.

Cousins was among the quarterbacks mentioned, with CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell suggesting the Falcons trade him back to the Minnesota Vikings:

“Minnesota obviously won’t be giving up on McCarthy after one year of playing, but perhaps they would like to bring another veteran into their quarterback room to perhaps start the season,” wrote Podell. “The Carolina Panthers‘ 2023 first overall pick, Bryce Young, improved after being benched for Andy Dalton. Perhaps that could be what McCarthy needs, too.”

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It’s true that McCarthy may be on thin ice. The former No. 10 overall pick has had trouble staying on the field over his first two NFL seasons. He sat out his entire rookie campaign due to a knee injury and missed seven more games in 2025. Could Cousins be the perfect bridge for McCarthy?

“The Atlanta Falcons are under new management after hiring franchise legend Matt Ryan as their team president and Kevin Stefanski as their new coach,” added Podell. “Trading Cousins back to the Vikings could be a win for all parties involved.”

Last season, Cousins passed for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He hasn’t been quite as effective in Atlanta, but Cousins had flashes of his old self during the team’s four-game winning streak.

Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham’s first real test will be figuring out what to do with Cousins.