Sources - Falcons expected to cut Kirk Cousins before $10M bonus due - ESPN

Kirk Cousins' divorce from the Falcons is expected to be finalized before his $10 million roster bonus is due March 17, with executives across the league fully expecting Atlanta to have to release him by then.

The split between Cousins and the Falcons is inevitable at this point, according to multiple sources.

Front office executives observing the situation have pointed out that, due to the no-trade clause in Cousins' contract, he now has all the leverage — and nobody believes he will be doing any favors for a Falcons team that surprised him on draft night by selecting another quarterback — Michael Penix Jr. — in the first round, then benching him this week in favor of the rookie.

Thus there now is a widespread expectation across the league that the Falcons will not be able to trade Cousins and they will have to release him before March 17, when his $10 million roster bonus for the 2026 season comes due. There's no need for the Falcons to absorb any more costs for a quarterback that cost them $90 million for 14 games.

Therefore, for the second straight offseason, Cousins is expected to become a free agent, able to choose the team and situation that he believes will be best for him.

A Falcons official told ESPN on Saturday morning that it was too early to determine whether the organization would release Cousins. The official added that Penix's relatively low salary-cap number for 2025 ($5.2 million) gives the Falcons the financial flexibility to potentially keep Cousins.

But the expectation around the league remains that the Falcons will release Cousins before the roster bonus is due.

The Broncos were in a similar situation last offseason, when Russell Wilson ultimately was released before his $37 million salary for the