Falcons say Kirk Cousins participating in voluntary offseason program was unsurprising, despite trade rumors

The Atlanta Falcons GM expects to keep Kirk Cousins on the team in 2025 despite him being benched for Michael Penix Jr. earlier last season.

Kirk Cousins' run with the Minnesota Vikings came to an end just over a year ago. The veteran quarterback signed a four-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons last March.

The status of Cousins remains a backdrop to the Falcons' plans for Thursday's NFL Draft. The veteran signal caller left some observers surprised when he reported for the first day of the team's voluntary offseason program.

But, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said he was not among the group who were surprised by Cousins' appearance. 

"I wouldn’t say a surprise," Fontenot said. "This is a voluntary thing. Whether a player comes or doesn’t come, we have a lot of good professionals who we know are going to take care of their bodies, including Kirk."

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) enters the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.  (Jeffrey Becker/Imagn Images)

Cousins' arrival in Atlanta last offseason presented him another opportunity to start, but his time as the Falcons' starter was ultimately short-lived. After a string of interception-riddled performances, the Falcons benched Cousins in December in favor of then-rookie Michael Penix Jr. 

Cousins remained the backup for the final three games of the season, with many believing he had taken his last snap in a Falcons uniform.

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Since the end of the regular season, the Falcons attempts to trade Cousins to another franchise have proven unsuccessful. Atlanta has been