Kirk Cousins rumors will fly until the NFL draft, could the Browns change the draft with a trade with the Falcons?
You have to give it to the Atlanta Falcons, they stayed true to their word. At the NFL combine, when the Falcons said they were comfortable with Kirk Cousins as their backup, most people scoffed. While Cousins would be fine in that role, most/all believed Atlanta wouldn’t guarantee another $10 million to keep him around given how much he was already owed.
Saturday, all reports were that the Falcons would indeed guarantee $10 million to Cousins in 2026. That doesn’t mean the Cleveland Browns can’t acquire him but Atlanta kept its leverage while Cousins still has his no-trade clause.
Whether or not Cousins has been the Browns primary choice as a starter for 2025, we’ve heard over the last week that the two teams have discussed a deal but that the quarterback was hoping to be a free agent and get to choose his destination. With Atlanta keeping him through the $10 million deadline, Cousins will not get his wish which could change things.
What if Cleveland and Atlanta work together on a deal that lowers how much salary cap the Falcons owe Cousins, get them an asset or two in return AND gets the Browns their quarterback of the future as well?
A complicated concept but one that was fun to piece together, we will break down the deal into to parts then combine them at the end.
Part 1: Kirk Cousins trade to the Browns
- CLE gets Cousins
- ATL gets 2026 5th round pick that could become a 3rd with playing time and Browns playoff appearance
A pretty simple trade, but maybe one neither side loves, where the conditions on the pick can help the Falcons feel good about whatever amount of cap hit they have to take for what was a huge mistake in the 2024 offseason. Most likely, Cleveland ends up sending a 4th rounder to Atlanta but would happily send their 3rd round pick in 2026 if they make the playoffs with Cousins as the starter
Part 2: Pick Swap so the Browns get Shedeur Sanders
- CLE gets pick #15
- ATL gets pick #33, two sixth round picks in 2025, DE Ogbo Okoronkwo, CB Greg Newsome and a 2nd round pick in 2027
See, this is where we get creative. On the whole, the Cousins trade above may not fit for both teams for a variety of reasons but putting this trade with it might help. It also might help the Falcons get off more of Cousins’ money because we all know Jimmy Haslam has no problem paying for things.
In general, moving from #33 to #15 requires a 2nd round pick. Here, Atlanta gets that but two years later where they are betting on the aging, expensive Browns to struggle. They also get a couple of extra picks in 2025 and a rotational defensive end in Okoronkwo (who seems to have been replaced by Joe Tryon-Shoyinka) and a starting level cornerback in Newsome.
By itself, this deal is not one that the Falcons might accept but the Cousins’ contract gives them a reason to do so. The Browns move ahead of a few teams that might want Sanders without giving up anything long-term besides a second round pick two years away. The loss on defense could be made up with the Tryon-Shoyinka signing and Cameron Mitchell’s emergence.
Full Browns, Falcons trade for Kirk Cousins, Pick #15
- CLE gets Kirk Cousins, Pick #15 (selecting Shedeur Sanders)
- ATL gets DE Ogbo Okoronkwo, CB Greg Newsome, two 6th round picks in 2025, a conditional 5th in 2026 and a 2nd in 2027
For Cleveland, adding DE Abdul Carter or WR/CB Travis Hunter with the second pick then acquiring their starting QB for 2025 and the future of the franchise in Sanders with the 15th pick might be as close to perfect as possible.
For Atlanta, they get off of a decent amount of money, add a starter and rotational piece to a defense that needs help and, likely, adds two Day 2 picks (along with a couple of sixth rounders).
Two birds (one literal Falcons player), one trade.
Guessing you will have thoughts, share them below in the comments and see what others think as well.