Kirk Cousins remains one of the most fascinating quarterbacks of the modern NFL. His willingness to leave the Redskins and test free agency in 2016 – and again in 2017, and again in 2018 – has given NFL fans some of the only true data points we have about the value of a good signal-caller on the open market.
In 2018, Cousins moved to Minnesota in free agency, where he ultimately played six years and earned more than $180 million.
In March 2024, Cousins agreed to a new contract with the Atlanta Falcons worth nearly $200 million. But the Falcons followed that up by drafting Michael Penix Jr., who’s now the starting quarterback in Atlanta.
In 2025, Cousins remains a very highly paid backup. Some members of the media may float him as trade bait for injury-plagued teams in need of a quarterback, but Cousins has a full no-trade clause in his current contract.
Unless he waives it, he’ll be staying in Atlanta, where he’ll be paid a huge sum of money to hold a clipboard on Sunday afternoons.
Kirk Cousins Contract
Kirk Cousins’ contract with the Falcons is a four-year deal worth a total of $180 million. It includes a no-trade clause.
The contract also includes $10 million roster bonuses for 2026 and 2027.
Kirk Cousins Signing Bonus
Kirk Cousins’ signing bonus with Atlanta is $50 million.
Kirk Cousins Salary
Kirk Cousins will earn $27.5 million from his NFL contract in 2025. It’s all structured as base salary.
Kirk Cousins Guaranteed Money
Kirk Cousins was guaranteed $90 million at signing, which is totaled from his full signing bonus and his $40 million in combined salary from 2024 and 2025.
An additional $10 million roster bonus, which is tied to his 2026 compensation, became guaranteed in the spring of 2025.
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