THE Atlanta Falcons have revealed their pondering on the way forward for costly quarterback Kirk Cousins after they benched the quarterback late within the season.

The 36-year-old Cousins earns $45 million per season, however he was changed by 2024 first-round decide Michael Penix Jr. starting in Week 16.

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Falcons normal supervisor Terry Fontenot revealed that the crew is “comfy” with retaining Cousins as Penix’s backup for the 2025 season.

“We’re very comfy transferring ahead with (Cousins) as backup, Fontenot informed reporters throughout a press convention on Thursday, per ESPN.

“Kirk is a superb man and he is been nice assist for Mike, an important teammate, nice assist for everyone within the constructing, so we’re very assured transferring ahead with him because the backup.”

Cousins penned a four-year, $180 million take care of Atlanta final offseason.

The four-time Professional Bowler returned from a season-ending torn Achilles he suffered final season with the Minnesota Vikings.

Nonetheless, he struggled mightily, tying the NFL lead in interceptions with 16 earlier than dropping his beginning position to Penix.

Throughout his closing 5 begins, Cousins threw one landing and 9 interceptions.

Fontenot shared they signed Cousins with the expectation “to get high-level quarterback participant for 2 seasons” and admitted that “the aircraft was for Kirk to play longer and for Mike to take a seat longer.”

“No person was pleased to make the swap at the moment. … So now what occurs is we needed to speed up that plan and go to Mike earlier and but the allocation of the quarterback place – the cap allocation – is we’re eighth within the league,” Fontenot added.

Cousins will obtain a $10 million roster bonus on March 17.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the expectation across the league is that the Falcons would reduce Cousins earlier than that date.

Nonetheless, Fontenot revealed that the report was unfounded.

If the Falcons elect to maintain Cousins by means of that date, the crew can try and commerce him with the hopes of escaping to pay the contract.

Cousins has a no-trade clause and if Atlanta traded him, the crew could be charged for the $37.5 million of remaining prorations, and his absolutely assured $27.5 million base wage could be handed to his new crew.

“We’ll take these issues as they arrive,” Fontenot stated relating to a possible commerce of Cousins.

Penix was the Falcons’ No. 1 signal-caller for the ultimate three video games of the season and posted 737 passing yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions.

Atlanta missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season after their 44-38 additional time loss to the last-place Carolina Panthers in Week 18.

The Falcons had began the season 6-3.

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