Falcons Sign Kirk Cousins; Super Bowl Contender?
The Atlanta Falcons have their guy after signing Kirk Cousins on the first day of the legal tampering period in free agency.
There’s a lot of calculus involved with quarterback decisions, but few are more important than simply answering, “Can he win us a Super Bowl?”
Nov 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws the ball against the New England Patriots during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
So far, Cousins hasn’t. He’s 1-4 in the playoffs and has long been viewed as a “win with” quarterback rather than a “win because of” kind of passer. Entering his age-36 season with a torn Achilles in his prior campaign doesn’t inspire confidence. On the other hand, though, Atlanta may be able to provide him with the best roster of his career.
The Falcons ranked fifth in defensive success rate last season and will be returning a mostly ready-made cast of characters. The investments made into the offensive line paid off, and the trio of receiver Drake London, running back Bijan Robinson, and tight end Kyle Pitts is still exciting. No one is Justin Jefferson, but there’s more than enough talent to find some success.
Cousins may have the appeal of Atlanta’s braintrust, too.
“[The Falcons] believe Cousins is the type of player who moves them from a fringe playoff team to a contender,” Dianna Russini reported at the NFL Scouting Combine. “New Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson both have familiarity with Cousins.”
That familiarity could breed confidence, but both Morris and Robinson’s past stop could do the same. Hailing from the Los Angeles Rams, they’ve seen firsthand what a strong veteran quarterback could do for a roster that wasn’t quite good enough.
Matthew Stafford’s arrival led to a Super Bowl run and has made the team competitive in the years since, giving them relevancy the Falcons have lacked since Matt Ryan’s twilight.
Cousins isn’t the player Stafford is, but his 2023 gives reason to believe that he can rejuvenate a franchise. Just how much success that could bring is the determining factor Atlanta will have to reckon with.
