A division rival just got a whole lot better.
As announced by his agent on Monday afternoon, quarterback Kirk Cousins has agreed to terms on a massive deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Per NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the four-time Pro Bowl passer will be headed to the NFC South on a four-year, $180 million pact with $100 million in guarantees.
Cousins, 35, is undoubtedly an upgrade at the position for the Falcons—who have struggled to find an answer under center since the departure of Matt Ryan. Atlanta has started a handful of quarterbacks since 2022—including Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.
The Carolina Panthers are not exactly strangers to Cousins, who has experienced some success against his new nearby foes in the past. Over five career games, he’s completed just over 70 percent of his passes for 1,341 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions.
He’s also picked up wins for the Minnesota Vikings in his last two matchups in Charlotte, with the most recent coming in Week 4 of this past season.