The Atlanta Falcons have signed quarterback Easton Stick to a contract, sparking trade rumors for veteran Kirk Cousins, who already lost his starting spot last season. 

With three games left in last year’s regular season, the Falcons, at 7-7, switched to rookie quarterback Michael Penix as the starter. 

Atlanta hoped to make a playoff run with the switch. However, losses to the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers had the team finish 2024 with a losing record. 

Despite not making the postseason, the Falcons appear to be ready to start Penix again in 2025, with Cousins still under contract for another three seasons. 

Before last season, Cousins signed a four-year, $180million contract at age 35. 

Although he was guaranteed $100million of that money, offloading Cousins would save the team $34million. 

The Atlanta Falcons have signed quarterback Easton Stick to a contract, sparking trade rumors

Kirk Cousins was benched as the Falcons starter last season in favor of upstart Michael Penix

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Stick had been with the Los Angeles Chargers for his entire NFL career since entering the league in 2019. 

He was the longtime backup to Justin Herbert, with him looking for a new opportunity after making the postseason last year. 

The Falcons would likely not hang on to all three on the active roster, with a practice-squad quarterback likely. 

That spot is typically given to someone who has less NFL experience than Stick and would never go to Cousins. 

Cousins had a likelier route to start one day in the NFL again before the signing of Stick and may have one foot out the door in Atlanta.