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.

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.

Kirk Cousins admitted that injuries suffered against the New Orleans Saints derailed his season with the Atlanta Falcons:

The Atlanta Falcons could be one of the most intriguing teams once the offseason begins. With a $180 million quarterback in Kirk Cousins potentially sitting on the bench, the Falcons' front office is likely to make some significant moves.

When speaking about the Luka Doncic trade, Falcons' Kirk Cousins connects the news to retirement. While there has been some speculation if Atlanta Falcons star Kirk Cousins will retire from the game of football,

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve seen the video floating around the internet of Kirk Cousins on Good Morning Football saying he suffered an elbow and shoulder injury in the Falcons’ Week 10 loss to the Saints.