When Kirk Cousins ​​signed his four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in March, no one expected him to be on the bench before the end of his first season.

With Cousins ​​benched for poor performance and rookie Michael Penix Jr. taking his place, the Falcons are now expected to release the quarterback after the season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Cousins ​​is due a $10 million roster bonus on March 17, and according to the report, executives across the NFL expect Cousins ​​to be released by then.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

If the Falcons cut Cousins ​​before March 17 and save $10 million, they would still be responsible for the bulk of Cousins’ contract.

Cousins’ $180 million contract has $100 million guaranteed. If the Falcons cut Cousins ​​before next season, they will take a dead cap hit of $65 million, according to Spotrac.

Cousins’ cap hit for next season would have been $40 million if he were still on the roster, but cutting him will add an additional $25 million to Cousins’ cap hit to the Falcons’ salary cap for next season.

Since rookie Penix Jr. will replace Cousins ​​when the Falcons face the New York Giants on Sunday, Cousins ​​would have been the most expensive bridge quarterback in NFL history.

Cousins ​​also has a no-trade clause and is not expected to waive it, according to the report.

Bosses motivated by doubters who say record is a fluke, says Star: ‘We’ll just keep showing up’

The 36-year-old quarterback was reportedly frustrated that the Falcons selected a quarterback with the eighth overall pick last season and chose Cousins’ eventual replacement instead of a player who could help them win now.

Cousins’ frustration with how things were handled led executives to believe the quarterback would do the team a disservice and waive his no-trade clause, the report said.

Cousins ​​will be in a similar situation this offseason as Russell Wilson was last offseason, assuming he is indeed released.

Wilson was released by the Denver Broncos last offseason, but the team is still paying him $53 million this season, per Spotrac.

Lions’ JOSH PASCHAL discusses why playing in Detroit is his destiny

Wilson signed a one-year veteran minimum contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the quarterback still being paid by the Broncos.

Cousins ​​will be able to sign a veteran league deal with another team like Wilson while still being paid by the Falcons not to play for them.

Through nine games, things have been going well for Cousins ​​and the Falcons. The team was 6-3 and atop the NFC South.

Now the team is 7-7 after a four-game losing streak and is no longer in the playoffs. The Falcons beat the lowly Las Vegas Raiders 15-9 on Monday to slip, but Cousins ​​played poorly in the win, prompting head coach Raheem Morris to make a change.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Cousins ​​has completed 66.9% of his passes and thrown for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, while also throwing 16 interceptions, the most in the league.

In addition to throwing 16 interceptions, Cousins ​​has also thrown 12 fumbles, tied with Baker Mayfield for the most fumbles in the NFL.

In his last five games, Cousins ​​has thrown just one touchdown with nine interceptions.

Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage of Xand subscribe the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.