Kirk Cousins’ Time in Atlanta Nears an End - Could the Jets Be His Next Stopgap?
Kirk Cousins’ run in Atlanta looks like it’s coming to a close. According to multiple reports, the veteran quarterback is expected to be released before the new league year kicks off on March 11 - a move that would officially close the book on a short but eventful chapter in his career with the Falcons.
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with Atlanta in 2024, a contract that initially signaled stability at the quarterback position. But just a few months later, the Falcons sent shockwaves through the league by selecting Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft. That decision didn’t just raise eyebrows - it effectively put a countdown on Cousins’ time as the starter.
Over two seasons, Cousins suited up for 24 games with the Falcons, throwing for 5,229 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions. It wasn’t always smooth sailing.
He was benched late in the 2024 season in favor of Penix, who brought a new energy to the offense. But when Penix tore his ACL nine games into the 2025 season, Cousins was back under center, once again tasked with leading a team in transition.
Last month, Cousins agreed to restructure his contract, giving Atlanta the financial flexibility to move on. The revised deal made it easier for the Falcons to release him - a decision that now seems imminent.
At 37, Cousins may not be the quarterback he was in his prime, but he’s far from washed. He’s still a capable starter who can read defenses, deliver the ball accurately, and manage an offense with poise. That’s going to matter to teams in need of short-term stability - and the New York Jets might be at the top of that list.
Speaking recently, Cousins kept things vague - as you'd expect from a veteran who's been through the free agency process before.
“You don’t really know what’s going to happen come March,” he said via NFL.com. “I’ve learned that February is really quiet, which is really nice.
You just kind of go away and disappear and go sit on a beach and then you know that March is coming. My agent, Mike McCartney, has kind of always handled that.
We’re on the phone a lot in March. It’s kind of been a rite of passage every March.
Mike and I are talking all the time. My wife knows, ‘Mike McCartney’s calling.
Can I disappear for a while?’”
That quiet might not last long - especially if the Jets pick up the phone.
New York is staring down yet another quarterback dilemma. The Justin Fields experiment didn’t work out. After signing him to a two-year, $40 million deal last offseason, the Jets got a disappointing return: a 3-14 record under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn and a quarterback who ranked 34th out of 42 in Total QBR (38.8), with just seven touchdown passes and 1,259 yards through the air.
Now, with the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft, the Jets find themselves in a tricky spot. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman winner, is expected to go No. 1 overall to the Raiders. And beyond him, there’s no clear-cut quarterback prospect worthy of being taken that high.
Sure, the Jets have 10 picks in the draft. They could grab a developmental quarterback in the second round.
But that rookie likely won’t be ready to start Week 1. That’s where Cousins fits in - not as a long-term solution, but as a reliable bridge.
A veteran who can steady the ship while a young quarterback gets up to speed.
Jets GM Darren Mougey seems to believe the supporting cast is already in place.
“I feel good about that offensive line,” Mougey said last month. “I think that’s a strength of ours, it’s a young group.
I think, with continuity in the group, they’ll only continue to get better. I think we’ve got a young tight end, I think we’ve got a good tight end room.
Obviously, we’ve got Garrett [Wilson], we’ve got Breece [Hall], we’ve got a good stable of backs, so I feel good about the offensive support on that side of the ball.”
He’s not wrong. The Jets have quietly built a solid offensive core.
What they’ve lacked - for years - is a quarterback who can tie it all together. They’ve now missed the playoffs for 15 straight seasons, largely because of that revolving door under center.
Cousins wouldn’t need to be a hero in New York. He’d need to be a point guard - distribute the ball, avoid costly mistakes, and bring some veteran calm to a young, talented offense. That’s a role he’s more than capable of filling.
There’s also a potential connection brewing on the sideline. While Cousins and new Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich haven’t worked together directly, there’s mutual respect.
After Cousins led the Vikings to a historic comeback from 33 points down in Week 15 of the 2022 season, Reich - whose Bills once held the record for the largest comeback in NFL history - reportedly texted him congratulations. It’s a small moment, but it speaks to the kind of football minds that could mesh well in the right situation.
Cousins has said he feels “rejuvenated” and is looking forward to returning for a 15th NFL season in 2026. He’s going to get interest, no question. But the Jets could offer something few other teams can: a clear path to a starting job, a strong supporting cast, and the chance to rewrite the final chapter of a career that’s been defined by consistency, professionalism, and quiet leadership.
The only question now: how many other teams will be in that conversation - and will the Jets be bold enough to make the first move?