Arthur Blank is ready to deal

Saw reports floating around today that the Falcons, who have already stated that a Day 3 pick would not be enough in a trade for maligned QB Kirk Cousins, are also requesting that a potential trade partner pick up $20M of guarantees left on Atlanta's bottom line. So I decided to take a look at his contract to see what that looks like.

Cousins signed a four year, $180M contract with Atlanta, which included $100M in guarantees - mostly his base salaries in 2024 and 2025, and a $50 million signing bonus. Also, there is a $10M roster bonus due on the 5th day of both the 2026 and 2027 league years.

For whomever that would trade for him, the roster bonus in 2026 is already guaranteed. So if they were to elect to cut him after the season, they're still on the hook for it. In addition, $10M of his 2026 salary is guaranteed.

His base salaries by year (guaranteed dollars):

2024: $12.5M ($12.5M)
2025: $27.5M ($27.5M)
2026: $35.0M ($10M)
2027: $35.0M

Putting that in perspective (in a caricature sort of way), a team willing to take him on at a minimum would take on:

$27.5M (guaranteed salary) + $20M (2026 guarantees) + $20M (Blank's bank) = $67.5M

• If cut after 2025, this could easily be considered the highest QB APY in the league (Prescott $60M)

Elect to keep him in 2026, the number climbs by $35M, to $103.5M, or $51.7M APY

• This ranks 10th, just above Hurts ($51M)

Keep him in the final year it's another $45M (w/ $10M roster bonus), to $148.5M, or $49.5M APY

• 11th, above Murray ($46.1M)

So after last year's collapse, Atlanta's offer is for another club to take on more than they will have ever paid him ($42.5M under this proposal) and a Day 2 pick for his age 37+ years.

Of course, no team will be paying this; it's just somebody's idea of starting the bidding high.

Nevertheless... whatchoo talkin' about, Arthur Blank?

 

I don't want this guy. I'll easily take Mason over him.

 

No team is going to trade for Cousins he is completely shot.

 

Oh My Gawd
Holy Jeepers
What are they? F#ckin Nuts!?!?!?

 

Yeah, no thanks on Cousins. He may not be shot, but he came off injury, was mostly bad, terribly overpaid. I'd rather draft and start a rookie than trade for Cousins. I'd only take him if the Falcons sent us a 1st round pick and ate half his remaining contract, and even then not sure i'd want to take the length of that contract on given his age and decline.

I'd rather have starting...in 2025, in this order:

Aaron Rodgers (seemingly less likely by the day)
1st round QB
Rudolph
3rd/4th round QB
Skylar!

 

I would rather wait on Rodgers.

 

Anyone know what Shane Falco is up to these days?