The New York Giants did not draft a quarterback in the first round Thursday night, but a candidate emerged thanks to a team that did.
Kirk Cousins is the newest contender to replace Daniel Jones after the Atlanta Falcons stunned the NFL in drafting Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick, a month after signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed, according to WFAN’s Evan Roberts.
“I think, two days ago, the most obvious names were Dak Prescott and Jared Goff,” Roberts said Friday, via Audacy. “The writing is on the wall. Daniel Jones may be the guy this season ... but the Giants are looking for a quarterback next year, and it’s probably of the veteran persuasion.
“Get used to hearing about Dak Prescott, and now, get ready to start hearing about Kirk Cousins.”
New York nabbed wide receiver Malik Nabers with the sixth pick after the three top QBs were taken in the first three picks — Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears), Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) and Drake Maye (New England Patriots).
The Penix Jr. pick not only shocked the NFL world, but it came as a surprise to Cousins too. According to reports, the 35-year-old was informed when Atlanta was on the clock.
“It was a big surprise. We had no idea this was coming,” Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney, said in a text to the NFL Network. “The truth is the whole league had no idea this was coming. We got no heads up.”
Falcons GM Terry Fontenot said the team believed in Penix and it meant they had to take him — even if he could be sitting for years. (Penix will turn 24 in May.)
Do Thursday’s events make it more likely Cousins’ tenure with the Falcons is short-lived?
Roberts believes so.
“Here’s the reality: We’re all idiots,” Roberts said. “We didn’t realize that the Falcons can trade him at any point, and it’s not a massive cap hit for them ... the Falcons announced to the world that with Kirk Cousins, it’s a one-night stand.”
A Cousins trade before June 1 would leave the Vikings with significant dead money, though it tiers lower throughout the deal. A deal post-June 1 would leave them with $12.5 million in each year, per Over The Cap.
The Star Tribune revealed the details of Cousins’ contract in March:
Cousins’ deal with Atlanta contains many of the accoutrements McCartney worked into his deals with the Vikings: a no-trade clause, a roster bonus that’s guaranteed a year before it’s paid, annual $2 million incentives. The quarterback will make $62.5 million in cash this year, through a $50 million signing bonus and fully-guaranteed $12.5 million base salary. His $27.5 million salary in 2025 is fully guaranteed, too, and while his $10 million roster bonus in 2026 is only guaranteed against injury now, it becomes fully guaranteed if Cousins is on the Falcons’ roster the fifth day of the 2025 league year.
MORE NFL COVERAGE
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.