The Minnesota Vikings drew a line in the sand with Kirk Cousins after the four-time Pro Bowler missed nine games in 2024, and their decision paid off in the form of a historic season with Sam Darnold at the helm.

A blockbuster trade package proposed by Pro Football Focus has the Cleveland Browns as a possible destination for the veteran quarterback. The Falcons are now in a precarious position after Cousins was said to have injured his shoulder and elbow, which led to his second-half collapse and benching in favor of rookie Michael Penix.

Either way, the Falcons appear to be committed to Penix as their No. 1 QB going forward after he closed the regular season with three strong performances as the team’s starter, while Atlanta lost four of Cousins’ five final starts. The team could either trade or release Cousins, who also battled injuries last season.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s promotion to the starting job in place of Kirk Cousins wasn't a surprise -- to everyone but Penix.