Kirk Cousins agreed on Monday to a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, his agent Mike McCartney announced on social media; quarterback worked his way back from injury last season to record a 103.8 passer rating in eight games for the Vikings
Kirk Cousins is leaving Minnesota for Atlanta, landing another big contract with a well-timed foray into free agency.
Cousins agreed Monday to a four-year deal with the Falcons, his agent Mike McCartney announced on social media .
Atlanta had a glaring need at quarterback after cycling through Tyler Heinicke and Desmond Ridder last season.
Working his way back from a torn Achilles tendon in his right foot that sidelined him because of an injury for the first time in his career, Cousins had a 103.8 passer rating in eight games for the Vikings last season that was still the third best in the league despite the lost time.
They were going to need a succession plan regardless of how this negotiation played out, though, considering Cousins’ age and their commitment to a “competitive rebuild,” as general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has termed it several times.
Cousins, for as much as he wanted to finish his career with Minnesota, he also made clear he wanted to be valued with a commitment beyond a token year.
“It’s not about the dollars, but what the dollars represent,” was how Cousins put it in an interview with reporters on January 8.
Cousins has not only been the consummate overachiever on the field, from afterthought college recruit to fourth-round draft pick to currently 24th place on the NFL’s all-time list in career passing yards, but he has mastered the business side of the game with the guidance of his agent McCartney.
