The Atlanta Falcons need a long-term quarterback solution, and that is no secret. However, Falcons reporter Zach Klein of ABC Channel 2 in Atlanta believes owner Arthur Blank is willing to move mountains for veteran Kirk Cousins.
Klein told 92.9 The Game on Thursday that word from the Falcons camp indicates that the team is planning to go all-in on Cousins, preferring a more experienced quarterback over one in the draft.
“Arthur Blank has basically ordered this front office to do what you have to do and pay what you have to pay. “Get it done,” Klein urged. “So everybody I’ve talked to, agents, other coaches and scouts, guys around the league — what they are hearing is that the Falcons will put all their attention on Kirk Cousins moving forward.”
Cousins, 35, is entering his 13th NFL season after suffering a major Achilles injury that sidelined him for half of the 2023 season. While injuries are always a concern for older players, Cousins was coming off one of his best seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, completing 13-4 and throwing for 4,547 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in 2022.
With free agency looming, it’s unclear where Cousins will land. Returning to the Vikings is still on the table, and head coach Kevin O’Connell recently expressed optimism about the prospect.
“I feel like we’re heading toward a good place with Kirk, but like we’ve seen, free agency and the uncertainties for this time of year, you’ve got to be ready in a leadership role to have contingency plans and adjust on the fly,” he added.
The Falcons have been attempting to replace Matt Ryan for a few years with little success. Band-aids like Marcus Mariota and Taylor Heinicke failed, even 2022 third-round pick Desmond Ridder did little to win the job in 13 starts last year, so pursuing Cousins makes sense.
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