N/S Falcons GM Terry Fontenot says he’s perfectly comfortable with Kirk Cousins being a $100-million backup QB in ‘25 (3 Viewers)

[kcirdor]

It’d be okay if Rattler was playing to Penix’s level, but he was too up and down to be dubbed a starting QB right now.

Cool.. if he really sucks that bad after a few starts... We have a back up plan... unless he wants to take a pay cut and be traded.

 

[Deuuuuce]

Depends on whether you are trying to be a .500 team with a lot of money invested in older veterans or if you are looking to the future and trying to retool. It is all about what the focus of the organization is. It is not as simple as saying Carr is better than Rattler currently.

Tell that to the head coach who is just trying to win football games.

 

[kcirdor]

It is not as simple as saying Carr is better than Rattler currently.

Exactly the point.

 

[OldTimeGamer1966]

How is this different from the Saints playing Rattler over Carr?

No different whatsoever, the only difference is that the Falcons are willing to take the chance. It will be interesting to see what the new coach determines at the QB position. I like the approach the Falcons are taking (not thinking of the money he would be paid to hold a clipboard LOL) in that if they feel they have a player that is better suited for them, and they fell like that is the new direction they want then that's the way to do it just go for it.

That's the only way you separate yourself from Carr. I am hoping the next coach will hold a camp where no one is safe at any position, and everything is wide open for competition.

 

[rlemieux]

Difference is Cousins in one of the most humble guys in the NFL. He might be the only 100 million dollar QB capable of having the humility to do that. Carr isn't that dude. Sorry.

 

[SAINTSFAN]

Tell that to the head coach who is just trying to win football games.

You do understand that any coach taking over for a team like this knows there is some level of retooling needed? If not, he is naive. If this were a winning situation day 1, there would not be a head coach opening.

 

[Deuuuuce]

No different whatsoever, the only difference is that the Falcons are willing to take the chance. It will be interesting to see what the new coach determines at the QB position. I like the approach the Falcons are taking (not thinking of the money he would be paid to hold a clipboard LOL) in that if they feel they have a player that is better suited for them, and they fell like that is the new direction they want then that's the way to do it just go for it.

That's the only way you separate yourself from Carr. I am hoping the next coach will hold a camp where no one is safe at any position, and everything is wide open for competition.

The major difference here is that Kirk played his way out of the job. Carr was better than Rattler this season so he shouldn’t lose his job just because he got hurt. It should be a true open competition, not just giving the job to Rattler because he is younger.

 

[OldTimeGamer1966]

It’d be okay if Rattler was playing to Penix’s level, but he was too up and down to be dubbed a starting QB right now.

I would be fine with it especially if he wins the job in camp. If Rattler were to outplay Carr so much that a new coach will insert him as the starter would be enough to trust that he has improved in the offseason. If not, then we have Carr and Rattler continues to develop, it is an all-win situation for the Saints. Rattler still has a bunch to prove and i think it will be an uphill battle but one that if Rattle won wouldn't totally surprise me just as it wouldn't surprise me to see him sit as the backup for another year.

 

[Deuuuuce]

Difference is Cousins in one of the most humble guys in the NFL. He might be the only 100 million dollar QB capable of having the humility to do that. Carr isn't that dude. Sorry.

Also Kirk could barely perform a basic drop because his body was in rough shape. If Carr is healthy, he is still capable as a starter. For Atlanta, It became obvious that Kirk couldn’t put velocity on his throws. Carr still throws a good ball and can move around in the pocket.

 

[OldTimeGamer1966]

The major difference here is that Kirk played his way out of the job. Carr was better than Rattler this season so he shouldn’t lose his job just because he got hurt. It should be a true open competition, not just giving the job to Rattler because he is younger.

I agree, that is what I think is that if he gets the starting job, it is because he earned it and that will be the case I imagine. A new coach is going to be very cautious as to who he starts especially with the situation we are in. Younger should never be the reason or injury (unless the person coming in a Brady or Brees and it is undeniable that they need to start) and for the most part it has been that way.

 

[B4YOU]

Falcons get zero cap savings by releasing Cousins but get significant relief if a team trades for him because his salary is guaranteed. The QB wall is 37 which Cousins turns in 2025. I can see Cousins riding a bench for a year and out the league in 2026. His agent should be actively working for a trade and starting gig if Cousins wants to play.

 

[Hedon James]

So you are of the belief that Carr is going to be the QB beyond next season? If not, then there is no point to start Carr. period. It is ideal to get the Young QB more reps and have a veteran QB. If he wants to "start" he can "take a pay cut" so we can trade him. IDEAL City.

That's the strategy I'd pursue. The posturing has already begun. Carr isn't willing to take a pay cut, especially considering what he's "put on tape". What he put on tape is 5-5 as a starter. Middling/average. The problem is that the alternative was 0-7 without him. I can't fault Carr for wanting his money, but what he "put on tape" is a silly argument IMO. Unless you put up Pro-Bowl numbers and were the lone bright spot in a dark season (conjuring up images of DB9 throwing for 5k+ yard and 30-40 TDs, but going 7-9), I'm not entertaining that delusional stance.

But Carr DOES hold the leverage, and his contract says what it says. ML negotiated that contract, so he knows too. But the other thing we KNOW, is that DC4 views himself as a starter (rightly so) and WANTS to be a starter. It was well-publicized that the Raiders benching him was a bitter pill to swallow. If the Saints were to let him know, as a courtesy, if you can't help the team with the cap, then you're likely to be our BACKUP QB in 2025. He's not going to like that scenario. And while you're at it, give him & his agent permission to seek a trade partner. I'll bet Carr moves off his no-trade clause, and maybe.....MAYBE...he'll find a trade partner and we can work out a scenario where we eat less cap (a win for us), maybe obtain a low round pick to eat cap in a contract restructure to accommodate trade (another win), and he takes a pay cut to start somewhere else (win for him and the other team).

But if the Saints took this position, that bridge is burned. There's no coming back from that. Depending on the re-negotiated contract and the revised cap hit, I think I'd be okay with this. Carr is a fine bridge QB, but he's not the long-term answer and is only a bridge solution for 1-2 years at best. If he can't work with the team to get the cap in order to put some talent around him, I'd be fine burning that bridge. JMO...

 

[texasjefe]

Yes, the Falcons were excessive stocking the QB room last offseason. No, they did not make the postseason, but they look like they have Penix as the clear #1, and a guy with a ton of starter experience who'll be healthier than a year ago as the backup. They are set for 2025.

With the Saints, Carr and Rattler should be the #1 and #2 entering camp. After that, whatever happens happens. But the QB's will be under the scrutiny of a new head coach, so they both better compete and play better. Get the offense two younger interior linemen who can backup and start if needed, and a backfield playmaker or two.

 

[Waymer]

The Falcons have some paths they could take here. It's easy to say no one would trade for Cousins or the Falcons won't keep him, but don't be too sure. His contract is not that big an albatross moving forward.

• The Falcons could cut Cousins now, but there would be no cap savings (but also no dead money). So speaking just financially, keeping Cousins vs cutting him makes no difference in the cap. (However, obviously from a cash flow standpoint it's money he must be paid, and that does matter to owners without question if the benefit is debatable).
• A post-6/1 cut is an option, leaving them with $25M on the books next year.
• They could also hang onto him and see if a team suffers an injury and would give some middling pick for him. The cap ramifications are actually better in 2025 for the Falcons if they do that -- but of course you have to hold on to Cousins for that timeline, so the cap isn't the priority there. A mid-season trade for Cousins or before isn't that crazy, because the guarantees in his contract will be gone after 2025.
• They could truly keep him if ownership doesn't balk at the cash flow. They can cut Cousins outright next year with a cap savings.

Lot's of options. I don't think Fontenot is lying when he says they could keep him, but he's also trying to leverage the situation they've found themselves in. Frankly I think he's most likely speaking to Kirk and his agent here as much as anything. "We'll keep you around, no problem. Of course you could work with us on your contract and we might could get you to another team, etc."

I do still think at the end of the day the most logical move is that he is cut though. Simply because no owner wants to pay $27.5M to someone who is likely/hopefully of "no use" to the team.

 

[Rouxble]

Keep in mind that the Falcons will pay $12m less than us for their QB room next year, so that’s one big difference. Cousins’ pay for 2025 is $27.5m versus $40m for Carr.

I still think the Falcons will move on, a $10m roster bonus in 2026 becomes guaranteed if they don’t. I really doubt they want to pay $38m for a one year backup.