No-trade clause complicates midseason movement; teams value his proven production and accuracy. A SF pairing would hinge on permission to waive the clause, with the Falcons needing cap relief in return. His market value is elevated by his consistency and familiarity in Shanahan’s zone-based system.

Cousins signed with Atlanta as part of a notable four-year deal, creating a veteran presence in the QB room. His addition shapes Penix’s development path and adds a mentoring dynamic, while also raising questions about immediate on-field impact and potential red-zone workload distribution for the Falcons.

Cousins carries a $40M cap hit, the largest on Atlanta’s roster, dwarfing others. The Mooney restructure helps, but Cousins remains the anchor constraint on 2025 spending. The team’s cap space sits around $7.3M, shaping how aggressively Atlanta can pursue upgrades.

Cousins sits in the wings as a potential trade target while Atlanta leverages his veteran steadiness behind the highly touted young QB, Anthony Richardson. The dynamic creates a panorama where fantasy managers must weigh risk, backup upside, and the possibility of a midseason QB shuffle that could redefine weekly values.

Cousins’ name surfaces as a market reference point for the QB landscape, illustrating how quarterback deals shape asset moves like Pitts. His hypothetical Falcons tie-in highlights cap realities and the attrition risk of selling a core asset for a quick fix.