Kirk Cousins's four-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons, his new team, is worth $180 million.
This deal put him in record books as one of the highest-paid QBs ever.
It was an irresistible amount of money. Hard to look away from.
Although the decision was easy for the veteran quarterback, his former team, the Minnesota Vikings, made it easier for him.
Cousins, 35, reportedly left his team for six seasons because he felt he would become unwanted after they expressed a desire to draft a quarterback.
"Here's why-a reason he decided to leave Minnesota is because the Vikings were very up front with the 35-year-old about the possibility that, even in the case he stayed, they'd take a quarterback of the future high in the draft," Albert Breer of the Sports Illustrated wrote Monday.
"Tying that together with the team's willingness to guarantee part, but not all, of a second year on another contract, Cousins figured that, if he stayed, there was a good shot that he'd be on the move in 2025."
The Vikings indeed drafted a quarterback, using their 10th overall selection to select J. J. McCarthy of the Michigan Wolverines.
McCarthy led his school to the College Football Playoffs of 2023 on his way to winning the Rose Bowl Offensive MVP.
The situation with the Falcons is not that different
Cousins had a massive amount of money locked, but the situation he tried to run away from remained after the Atlanta Falcons' draft decision.
The team drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick, two places higher than the Vikings.
Cousins' camp said the decision did not amuse him.
The Falcons maintained that he would be QB1 for the next season, although they believed there could be someone who could eventually overtake the main quarterback.
They got Penix Jr. to become their main QB in five seasons.
"It's the most important position in all sports, and it's the most expensive position in all sports," said Falcons assistant general manager Kyle Smith last week.
"We went from a time of uncertainty in January at that position to we feel really good for, like I said, minimum five years."
Penix Jr. said he had already talked to Cousins about their future team-up and had a good conversation.
Cousins has yet to pass a physical exam for the Falcons as he is still recovering from a season-ending Achilles injury last season.
The Falcons aim to reach the postseason for the first time since 2017.
Their quarterback position last season did not produce the desired results. Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke occupied the position alternately but only managed to steer the team to a third-place finish in the NFC South.
Cousins showed he is still a force to be reckoned with in his first eight games with the Vikings last season.
His best game was against contenders San Francisco 49ers during Week 7 when he completed 35 passes out of 45 attempts for 378 yards, two touchdowns, with no sack.
He was injured in Week 8 and was immediately shut down for the rest of the season. The Vikings never improved after that.
Related article: Falcons - Terry Fontenot's Not-so Encouraging Plan for Michael Penix
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