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ESPN lays out four potential trade scenarios for Falcons QB Kirk Cousins

The Atlanta Falcons may have the best backup quarterback in the league on their bench. Veteran Kirk Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract last offseason but was benched for rookie Michael Penix Jr. in Week 16. Since the Falcons are giving Penix the keys to the offense, trading Cousins would be best for all parties involved. Now that the June 1 deadline has passed, Atlanta could move Cousins without devastating financial ramifications. The question is whether or not another team would actually pay the veteran quarterback's $27.5 million salary for the 2025 season. Advertisement ESPN's Dan Graziano, Jeremy Fowler, Ben Solak and Seth Walder pitched hypothetical trade scenarios for the Falcons to move Cousins. Let's take a look at all four theoretical trades below. Trade 1 (Fowler): Falcons-Browns Fowler's trade has the Falcons sending Cousins and a seventh-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for quarterback Kenny Pickett and a sixth-round pick. Cleveland currently has Joe Flacco, rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders and Pickett competing for the QB1 spot with Deshaun Watson out (Achilles). The Falcons could strike a deal where they front $17.5 million of Cousins' guaranteed money for 2025, and Pickett would be Atlanta's new QB2. -- Jeremy Fowler Trade 2 (Graziano): Falcons-Vikings Graziano's proposed trade sends Cousins back to Minnesota in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick, a seventh-round selection in 2027 and cash considerations ($10 milllion). Well, it makes sense for all three sides, really, counting Cousins himself. He wants a chance to start and could use his no-trade clause to nix a deal to any place he doesn't want to go. But if he has to be a backup, we know he liked living in Minnesota and playing for the Vikings. -- Dan Graziano Trade 3 (Solak): Falcons-Steelers Ben Solak's trade proposal sends Cousins to the Steelers in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick and cash considerations. With Pittsburgh still waiting on Aaron Rodgers, Cousins may start to look like a more appealing, less dramatic option at quarterback. Cousins is a good fit for coordinator Arthur Smith's offense, which doesn't need its quarterback to move much out of the pocket. This late of a draft pick is close to Cousins' value, and I'd imagine the Falcons are still willing to swallow $20 million -- maybe even more -- of his salary to get this deal done. -- Ben Solak Trade 4 (Walder): Falcons-Vikings In the second proposed trade with the Vikings, the Falcons would send Cousins to Minnesota for quarterback Sam Howell and cash considerations. Howell was acquired by the Vikings during the 2025 NFL draft in a trade with the Seahawks. The key to the compensation for a Cousins deal is how much of his guaranteed money the acquiring team will take on. I'll raise Dan's offer and say the Vikings pay $12 million of it. This would allow Atlanta to save a little face and get out of the situation with a different backup quarterback. -- Seth Walder Advertisement All four offers have upside, and it makes sense that Atlanta would seek a backup-caliber quarterback to replace Cousins. The team signed Easton Stick in free agency, but he has limited starting experience. If the Falcons could land Pickett or Howell, while shedding Cousins and some cash, it would be a major win for the team. This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons QB Kirk Cousins: ESPN breaks down 4 trade scenarios