The Atlanta Falcons were done taking chances with Michael Penix Jr. At least, that’s what it appeared. They did some shuffling in the starting quarterback position in Week 3, bringing veteran Kirk Cousins under center. This added an interesting element to the NFL trade deadline, set for November 4. 

As the trade chatter became louder, the questions even reached Cousins. His response? Keeping an open mind. “Right now, it’s just about the role I’m in, and focused in on helping us win football games and being ready for the next challenges we face. I’ll stay sharp, and you never know what the league will bring,” he said, via Greg Auman of FOX Sports. 

While ready to accept whatever comes his way, Cousins is redirecting all his focus to the Falcons. “For right now, I think you focus on the task at hand, being one play away and being ready, also being a great support to the guys that are starting,” he added. 

So, Cousins was in trade conversations for quite some time. Whispers had him linked to the Cincinnati Bengals, who desperately need a reliable quarterback until Joe Burrow returns. That isn’t happening till the third week of December. It felt like a reasonable move, but the veteran desires to go with the flow. Why not?

He earned the starter role recently, even for some time. With 10:44 left to conclude Week 3, Cousins stepped on the field while Penix Jr. walked off. Since there wasn’t much time to move the ball, the Falcons ultimately went scoreless against the Carolina Panthers. Head coach Raheem Morris later explained that the move was to keep Penix, aka the starter, “out of harm’s way.” In his mind, there’s still no competition between the second-year QB and the 12-year veteran: the starting position belongs to the former. 

If the Falcons get ready to hear offers, they are expected to entertain only those who offer to take parts of Cousins’ salary. Based on the $180 million contract he signed in 2024, he is set to make $27.5 million (close to $21.4 million still owed) as base salary this year, along with $10 million bonus option. That’s why, as per NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Falcons have no plans whatsoever to trade Cousins (until they receive a shining offer). ‘Cause the last thing they would want is dead money. 

Bengals’ need for Kirk Cousins

Atlanta may not listen to the calls demanding Cousins under center, but Cincy might. Especially when their star wide receiver, Ja’Marr Chase, has been reportedly frustrated with the team losing its rhythm under Jake Browning. In the embarrassing 28-3 loss at the hands of the Denver Broncos, Chase was seen visibly pissed on the sideline. 

“Urgency is there, man, it’s just you gotta want it. At the end of the day, we gotta want it. Today, it didn’t look like we wanted it,” he admitted in the locker room media interaction. That’s not a good look for the Bengals. Burrow isn’t returning anytime soon, but the trade deadline is moving closer. If there’s any chance to stop Chase from giving up on the team, it is stabilizing the quarterback room. 

The straight and simple answer: Bench Browning, seek external reinforcement. The way things are going with Penix (after Week 4 win), Cousins’ future appears gloomy. Of course, the trade doesn’t possess the best deal for Cincinnati, but it may be worth it for the bigger picture. 

Given Burrow’s ill fate with injuries, they need a reliable force as backup to take over and handle things in Joe’s absence. That is not Browning. So if Cousins wants them to meet him halfway, why not? The timeline of Burrow’s return remains three months, but if Browning continued, the chance of saving the 2025 season would be long gone.