Back in March 2024, quarterback Kirk Cousins signed a huge $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. The agreement also included a $50 million signing on bonus, making it one of the biggest deals of the year. Initially, the announcement came as a shock to the NFL world, as nobody expected the 36-year-old veteran to get snapped up by the Falcons, especially since Cousins is fresh off an Achilles injury that kept him sidelined for most of last year. But ahead of the 2024 NFL season, Cousins is on the road to recovery and (even though he won’t play in the preseason) should be ready for Week 1 vs the Steelers. This has got Falcons fans excited, with most of them optimistic that Cousins will bounce back from injury and transform the franchise.
Kirk Cousins Could Lead the Atlanta Falcons to Their First NFC South Title Since 2016
The main hope following the signing of Kirk Cousins is that the NFL veteran will lead the Falcons to their first NFC South title since 2016. According to sports betting picks expert sharperz.com, the Falcons are now officially NFC South favorites at -145 odds, with most sportsbooks predicting them to win it. These odds largely reflect the signing of Kirk Cousins, who has huge expectations on his shoulders.
Last season, everyone remembers that the Falcons came extremely close. However, the incompetence of Arthur Smith ultimately cost them a playoff spot for the third consecutive season, which led to the former HC being dismissed from his role in January. Now, new head coach Raheem Morrison and QB Kirk Cousins have arrived in Atlanta, so things are looking good for the new season.
The big factor will be whether Cousins can fully recover from his Achilles injury. If his road to recovery goes smoothly and the quarterback can recapture his previous form with the Vikings, where he achieved 3 Pro Bowl selections while also reaching third in the Vikings’ all-time passing yards chart, then Falcons fans will be ecstatic. After all, let’s not forget that Cousins is one of the most deadly quarterbacks in NFL history whenever he has an excellent OL protecting him, which the Falcons currently have following heavy investment over recent years.
Heading into the new NFL season, the Falcons are the strongest they’ve been for a long time. Outside of Kirk Cousins, new additions also include:
🏈 Darnell Mooney (WR)
🏈 Matthew Judon (DE)
🏈 Justin Simmons (S)
You also have an offense led by the highly talented Bijan Robinson and Drake London, which creates an excellent foundation for the Falcons to go ahead and win the NFC South title. There’s even a small chance that the Falcons might pull off a shock Super Bowl appearance, which they haven’t done since Super Bowl LI back in 2017.
Why Did the Falcons Draft Michael Penix Jr.?
When Cousins originally joined the Falcons, it was a shock. However, another surprise followed shortly after when the Falcons also decided to draft Michael Penix Jr. in the first round, which Cousins was reportedly disappointed by. Penix is viewed as a legitimate top-10 talent with huge franchise quarterback potential, though, which was the long-term inspiration behind his surprising draft. And it won’t have an effect on an injury-free Cousins, either, who will still be the starting QB for the Falcons, with Penix serving as backup. The most likely outcome is that Cousins will leave the Falcons after his four-year deal is finished and (by that point) Penix will be franchise-level and ready to step in.
Summary
It’s going to be an exciting season for Falcons fans, that’s for sure. After years of underperforming, it finally looks like the Falcons are going to win the NFC South title and kickstart a new era under head coach Raheem Morris and quarterback Kirk Cousins. Despite his age and recent injury, Cousins still looks like he has a lot to offer on the NFL stage, so don’t be surprised if he has an excellent comeback season.
