NFL.com ranks Falcons QB Kirk Cousins among top 30…

The Atlanta Falcons traded away quarterback Matt Ryan during the 2022 offseason and failed to find his replacement for the next two years. Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke each took turns striking out under former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith.

The team finally addressed the game’s most important position by signing Kirk Cousins on the opening day of 2024 free agency, and then again by selecting Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the draft.

Cousins will be expected to elevate Atlanta this season while Penix is the future. NFL.com released a new feature in which Ali Bhanpuri, Tom Blair, Gennaro Filice and Dan Parr broke down the league’s top 30 players over 30. Cousins was the only Falcons player listed, coming in at No. 15:

Cousins was playing the best football of his career before tearing his Achilles against the Packers at the end of October. Through eight games — three of them without Justin Jefferson — Captain Kirk’s efficiency and productivity were undeniable, with the veteran quarterback ranking first in touchdowns (tied with Tua Tagovailoa), second in yards, third in passer rating and fourth in completion percentage over expected, per NGS.

Had Cousins’ season not been cut short, and instead, he’d continued on his torrid pace, Dak Prescott and Matthew Stafford surely would’ve had company in this list’s top QB tier. But it’s hard to predict how a 36-year-old Cousins will rebound less than a year removed from such a significant injury. So while we, like Atlanta, recognize the substantial upside the four-time Pro Bowler brings to the table, we also don’t mind following the Falcons’ lead and hedging a bit. — Ali Bhanpuri, NFL.com

Four quarterbacks were included on NFL.com’s list, with Cousins finishing third among them. The others listed were Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (No. 4), Rams QB Matthew Stafford (No. 5), and Jets QB Aaron Rodgers (No. 17).

All four quarterbacks have accomplished a lot in this league but somewhat underperformed in the postseason. While Rodgers and Stafford each have a Super Bowl, Cousins and Prescott have come up small in the playoffs through much of their careers.

Still, Cousins has been extremely consistent in the regular season over his 12 NFL seasons. Since 2015, no quarterback has had more seasons passing for at least 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns than Cousins (seven total seasons):

Good company 👀 pic.twitter.com/xgObKHOm0v

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 17, 2024

Last year, Cousins was on track to easily top this milestone for an eighth time before he tore his Achilles at midseason. In eight games, the veteran QB passed for 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns, and just five interceptions.

Cousins has a chance to rewrite his postseason legacy in Atlanta over the next few seasons.