The Atlanta Falcons may need to make another big move at quarterback in the 2025 offseason.

While there will be no need to sign a starting quarterback after the team drafted Michael Penix Jr. last April, parting ways with quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​could be in the team’s future.

If the Falcons want to move on from Cousins ​​this offseason and give Penix the starting job, they could either trade Cousins ​​to another team or release him outright in free agency.

Releasing Cousins ​​would be a big hit to Atlanta’s salary cap in 2025, as he would face a $65 million salary cap hit, according to Over the Cap. It’s very unlikely that the Falcons would be willing to take such a big loss after only having Cousins ​​for one season.

Trading him would be the best financial option, as a trade could net the Falcons a draft pick in return as well as $2.5 million in cap savings. The dead cap hit would still be pretty high at $37.5 million, but that’s clearly not as bad as a release.

Note that Cousins ​​has a no-trade clause in his contract, so he must give his approval to any trade before it goes through. However, the Falcons could likely find a suitor this spring looking for a bridge starter at quarterback.

It’s entirely possible that Cousins ​​ends the year on a high note and takes on the Falcons again in 2025. However, if its downward trend continues, Atlanta may have to make some tough decisions this offseason.