Kirk Cousins’ divorce from the Falcons is expected to be finalized before his $10 million roster bonus is due on March 17, with executives across the NFL fully expecting Atlanta to get him by then is dismissed.

According to multiple sources, the split between Cousins ​​and the Falcons is inevitable at this point.

Front office executives monitoring the situation have indicated that he now has all the leverage due to the no-trade clause in Cousins’ contract. And no one thinks he’ll do any favors to a Falcons team that surprised him on draft night by selecting another quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., in the first round and benching him in favor of the rookie this week .

As a result, there is now widespread expectation across the league that the Falcons cannot trade Cousins ​​and must release him before March 17, when his $10 million roster bonus for the 2026 season is due. There is no need for the Falcons to incur additional costs for a quarterback they paid $90 million for 14 games.

Therefore, Cousins ​​is expected to become a free agent for the second straight year and will be able to choose the team and situation that he believes is best for him.

A Falcons official told ESPN Saturday morning that it was too early to determine whether the organization would release Cousins. The official added that Penix’s relatively low 2025 salary cap hit ($5.2 million) gives the Falcons the financial flexibility to potentially retain Cousins.

But there remains an expectation around the league that the Falcons will release Cousins ​​before the roster bonus is due.

The Denver Broncos found themselves in a similar situation last offseason when Russell Wilson was ultimately released before his $37 million salary for the 2025 season was fully guaranteed. Wilson’s guarantee was due on March 17, 2024, exactly one year before Cousins’ roster bonus with the Falcons is due.

Wilson signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers worth at least $1.2 million for the veterans – similar to the type of contract offers the 36-year-old Cousins ​​would receive from other teams if he opts in the year to play in 2025.

Had the situation in Atlanta been handled differently in the eyes of executives across the league, the Falcons might have had a chance to work with Cousins ​​to facilitate a move to another team. However, given the story that has unfolded over the past few months, this is not to be expected.

Cousins ​​wasn’t informed that the Falcons would be signing a quarterback until they drafted the four-time Pro Bowler when they listed their first-round pick in April.

This caused frustration and confusion in the Cousins ​​camp, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on draft night, because Atlanta did not use the eighth overall pick of a player to support Cousins ​​and make the team better; Instead, the Falcons selected a player to eventually replace Cousins.

“He got the call on the clock, obviously because of the sensitive time with questions about what’s going on,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said in April. “There is never a good time to talk to a quarterback about these things, and when it comes to these things, the reactions will always remain private unless Kirk decides to tell you some of these things, whatever they are may be.”

“But he’s a competitor, just like all of us. And you can always expect things to work out the way you want them to.”

The Falcons announced Tuesday that Penix was their starting quarterback with three games left this season, sending Cousins ​​to the bench just months after he signed a four-year, $180 million contract that included a Guarantee of 100 million US dollars included.

The Falcons could try to see if there is a way to trade Cousins, but would need his cooperation, and no one in the league expects them to get it, meaning it’s only a matter of time before Atlanta doesn’t have another will have a choice but to release him.

What also makes the move interesting is the perceived lack of quality quarterbacks available this offseason. Next year’s draft is not considered to be as good or deep at the quarterback position as this year’s, and the free agent quarterback class is currently slated to include Sam Darnold, Wilson and eventually Cousins.

Teams expected to be in the quarterback market this offseason include the Steelers, Jets, Giants, Raiders, Saints, Browns and Titans. As usual, there aren’t enough quarterbacks to go around.

Morris said Wednesday that the biggest factor in putting Cousins ​​on the bench was his turnovers. Cousins ​​has a league-best 16 interceptions, and his 12 fumbles are tied for the most in the NFL with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield.

“There is a standard that I have of myself, that the team has of me, and unfortunately I haven’t met that standard consistently enough,” Cousins ​​said on Wednesday in his first comments since being substituted. “And so it is what it is, and you go along and you’re still getting ready now – kind of like ‘a game away’ – and supporting Mike and just trying to help our team find a way.” to win the last three to get into the playoffs and that’s what it’s all about.”

The Falcons (7-7) are in second place in the NFC South, but are ahead of the first-place Buccaneers (8-6) in the tiebreaker and have a 20% chance of winning, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index projections reach the playoffs.

Atlanta hosts the struggling Giants (2-12) on Sunday when Penix makes his first career start.

Cousins ​​said Wednesday that despite recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon in 2023, he is not injured. As for what lies ahead after this season, he said he will address it in due course.

“I haven’t forgotten how to play quarterback,” he said. “Of course losing the ball wasn’t what you want, but I didn’t forget how to play.”

ESPN’s Marc Raimondi contributed to this report.