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The 2026 season will usher in a new regime for the Atlanta Falcons, with the team welcoming new head coach Kevin Stefanski, a general manager yet to be named, and new president of football Matt Ryan.
Needless to say, there will be plenty of new faces around the organization next season. But what about one of its most familiar ones?
Something former head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot tried to avoid over the last two years was uncertainty at the quarterback position. Not only did they sign veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a massive four-year, $180 million deal during the 2024 offseason, they also drafted Michael Penix Jr. No. 8 overall just weeks later.
The result yielded nothing close to meaningful success, with the firings of Morris and Fontenot serving as clear evidence of that. But their departures also leave Stefanski in a difficult position.
In his first season, Stefanski will be without last year’s Week 1 starter, Penix, who suffered a torn ACL midseason. Cousins’ future in Atlanta, meanwhile, remains unclear, as the Falcons could decide to release him unless a new deal is worked out.
That reality opens the door for Cousins to potentially look for a new place to call home in 2026.
Kirk Cousins Could Reunite With Vikings
Back on Jan. 6, ESPN’s Field Yates reported that Cousins and the Falcons agreed to a restructured deal covering the final two years of his contract. The revised agreement guarantees Cousins $67.9 million for the 2027 season, which vests on March 13, while also providing Atlanta with added salary-cap flexibility. Importantly, the restructure did not impact money Cousins was already owed.
Even so, signs continue to point toward a possible split unless another agreement is reached.
If Cousins does reach free agency, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox believes the best landing spot would be a reunion with the Minnesota Vikings.
“The Vikings, though, would actually provide a better landing spot for Cousins, assuming they don’t trust J.J. McCarthy, who struggled through injuries in 2025,” Knox wrote. “Minnesota has an excellent receiving corps, and Cousins had his last Pro Bowl campaign under Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.”
While Minnesota could offer a familiar and potentially fitting environment for Cousins to close out his career, Knox also believes there’s one quarterback-needy team Cousins should avoid entirely.
One Team Cousins Should Avoid in Free Agency
Like every offseason, several teams will be searching for a veteran quarterback — either to stabilize their offense or to mentor younger players. One franchise that routinely finds itself in that position is the New York Jets.
“If Cousins is released, and the Jets come calling, he should refuse to answer the phone,” Knox wrote.
“The Jets have a lackluster offensive supporting cast and aren’t built to compete in the AFC East in the near future. Cousins, who is a 37-year-old pure pocket passer, should be seeking a strong skill group and a chance to get back to the postseason right away.”
It’s hard to argue with that assessment. The Jets haven’t posted a winning season since 2015 and continue to lack a clear organizational direction. If Cousins hopes to finish his career on a competitive note, New York doesn’t appear to be the answer — and recent history would suggest as much.
Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker
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