Falcons restructure Kirk Cousins deal, setting up likely post-June 1 release

"Kirk Cousins is going to be playing elsewhere in 2026. I know that, you know that, he knows that, and the Falcons know that. It doesn't have to be a messy divorce, as it would have been after he was benched in 2024, but from a performance and contract standpoint, there's very little sense in Cousins returning next year. The team and the player just agreed to a move that in my mind all but confirms the outcome, reported by ESPN's Field Yates."

"Where cutting Cousins previously would have left the Falcons with about $25 million in dead money in 2026 and $12.5 million in 2027, they'll now have to carry about those same totals...but will have more money to work with in the here and now, per Over The Cap, given that his actual salary for 2026 just plummeted all the way down to $2.1 million."

"That means cutting him with a post-June 1 designation before the March 13 date where his guarantee will vest for a whopping $67.9 million in 2027. It will only save $2.1 million against the cap in 2026 once that cut happens, but gives the Falcons money to make a splash or two in the first couple of days of free agency, and saves them a staggering $77.9 million against the cap in 2027."

"Even if those numbers turn out to be a bit different when they're made official, the play here is fairly obvious: Have room to breathe as you look to potentially re-sign free agents like Kyle Pitts and David Onyemata, attract a couple of free agents in the early days of free agency, and then save a ton of money against next year's cap as you look to significantly re-tool the roster."

Kirk Cousins will play elsewhere in 2026 following a contract move that reduced his 2026 salary to $2.1 million. The Falcons still carry similar dead-money totals across 2026 and 2027 but gain immediate cap flexibility. Cutting Cousins with a post-June 1 designation before his March 13 guarantee vests would provide only modest 2026 savings but would free roughly $77.9 million against the 2027 cap. The restructure enables early free-agency moves and increases the chance to re-sign or pursue players such as Kyle Pitts and David Onyemata while the team significantly retools the roster.

Read at The Falcoholic