Whether fans were prepared for it or not, the Atlanta Falcons are now sudden favorites to make a deep playoff run after stealing Kirk Cousins from the Minnesota Vikings.
The team being led by Raheem Morris is looking like a dangerous team in the NFC now that they have an accomplished QB who can maximize the talented playmakers that line up for the Falcons.
However, there’s more to this massive signing than just raising the level of competition in the NFC South. There is a big argument that can be made that the acquisition is the catalyst for moves future QBs will be making moving forward.
Yahoo! Sports’ Charles Robinson pointed out how teams will be affected by the giant four-year, $180-million contract he got from the team.
Kirk Cousins’ Atlanta Falcons deal will balloon future QB extensions
The biggest impact Cousins’ arrival with the Falcons will be the boost many high-quality QBs who have proven themselves as playoff winners will have moving forward.
While Cousins has made impressive playoff runs during his time in Minnesota, he never made it to the conference championship during his six years with the Vikings.
Meanwhile, there are several outstanding QBs in the league who have showcased the ability to make it far into the playoffs. Players like Jared Goff, Dak Prescott, and Trevor Lawrence have Cousins to thank if they manage to secure better deals when new contracts have to be written up.
Lower-tier QBs can now ask for more money thanks to Cousins’ contract
Another huge problem that Cousins’ contract will cause across the NFL is the fact that more QBs will be looking to make a big payday as his current deal will allow agents to use it to fork out more cash on behalf of their clients.
We’ve already seen the impact it has on the QB market as Sam Darnold got an easy $10 million from the Vikings just to be their bridge quarterback for the 2024 season.
If the Atlanta Falcons decide to add an insurance policy to their 2024 roster by drafting a QB with their eighth selection, it could also hinder the development of whoever young QB they decide to pick. While he can learn more about the NFL under Cousins’ tutelage, there’s no better substitute to getting some NFL reps in.
Is Kirk Cousins the right answer for the Atlanta Falcons?
It’s easy to understand why Cousins is offered the ridiculous amount of money he got. before he tore his Achilles against the Detroit Lions, he was on pace for a career season. Through seven games, he completed 70% of his passes for 2331 yards and 18 touchdowns while only turning the ball over five times.
However, if his body doesn’t properly recover and he doesn’t pan out the way Raheem Morris and the Falcons hoped, this deal will have an irreparable effect on how teams negotiate with QBs moving forward.
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