The Atlanta Falcons have extended their contract with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, keeping him on the roster past 4 p.m. ET Saturday. This move triggers a $10 million guaranteed roster bonus due in 2026. Despite being benched in Week 16 and facing criticism for his performance, Cousins is now set to serve as backup quarterback behind rookie Michael Penix Jr. The decision is seen as a strategic move from the Falcons’ perspective, allowing them to keep Cousins at a high price while working on a potential trade in the coming months. However, sources suggest that Cousins wants to be the starting quarterback next season and has been frustrated with his current situation.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44265106/sources-falcons-keep-kirk-cousins-roster-bonus-deadline