5 Ironclad Reasons Kirk Cousins Must Never Waive His Falcons No-Trade Clause

The conversation surrounding Kirk Cousins' future with the Atlanta Falcons has reached a fever pitch, especially following the controversial drafting of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft. As of December 2025, with the NFL season in full swing or recently concluded, the veteran quarterback's most valuable asset is not his arm strength or his four Pro Bowl selections, but the simple, powerful language of his contract: a full, unassailable No-Trade Clause (NTC). Any speculation about him moving to a new team—whether it's a playoff contender or an injury-plagued squad—must first pass through his personal veto power. For Cousins, a master of contract leverage and financial security, waiving this clause would be a catastrophic mistake, sacrificing control, stability, and his financial destiny for no tangible gain. This clause is the ultimate protection for his family and his career trajectory in the back half of his playing days.

The $180 million contract he signed with the Falcons in March 2024 was a landmark deal, guaranteeing him $100 million and cementing his status as one of the highest-earning players in NFL history. The NTC is the shield that protects that massive investment, ensuring he dictates the terms of his employment, not the team that may have just "blindsided" him with a first-round pick. Here are the ironclad reasons why Cousins should keep his no-trade clause firmly locked down.

Kirk Cousins: Biography and Career Profile

• Full Name: Kirk Daniel Cousins
• Born: August 19, 1988 (Age 37 as of late 2025)
• Hometown: Barrington, Illinois
• College: Michigan State University
• NFL Draft: 4th Round, 102nd overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins (now Commanders)
• Primary Teams: Washington Redskins/Commanders (2012–2017), Minnesota Vikings (2018–2023), Atlanta Falcons (2024–Present)
• Wife: Julie Hampton (married 2014)
• Career Earnings: Over $230 million through 2023, making him one of the highest-earning players in NFL history.
• Falcons Contract: 4 years, $180 million, with $100 million guaranteed.
• Key Contract Feature: Full No-Trade Clause (NTC) with the Atlanta Falcons.
• Accolades: 4x Pro Bowl selection (2016, 2017, 2019, 2022)

The Financial Fortress: Protecting $100 Million Guaranteed

The most compelling reason for Cousins to retain his NTC is purely financial. His contract with the Atlanta Falcons is structured to provide an unparalleled level of security for a player entering his late 30s. The $100 million in guaranteed money is the core of this security, and the NTC is the lock on the vault.

• 7 Shocking Things Jessica Capshaw Revealed About Growing Up With Steven Spielberg As Her Stepfather 892ho

• Guaranteed Salaries: Cousins' 2024 and 2025 salaries are fully guaranteed. A trade does not negate this, but the NTC ensures that if the Falcons try to move him to shed future cap liability or to make room for Michael Penix Jr., they can only do so on his terms.
• Cap Hit Control: The Falcons face significant financial hurdles in the later years of the contract, with potential cap hits of $57.5 million in 2026 and 2027. While the team may look for a trade partner to alleviate this pressure, waiving the NTC would allow the Falcons to dump his contract onto a less desirable team without any concessions to Cousins himself. By keeping the NTC, he forces the Falcons to negotiate a new, favorable deal with any potential trade partner, ensuring his compensation or contract structure remains optimal.
• Dead Money Leverage: The Falcons would incur a $25 million dead cap hit if they cut him after the 2025 season. This massive financial penalty is Cousins' ultimate leverage. Any team considering trading for him knows that the Falcons are heavily invested and cannot easily release him, which strengthens Cousins' position to demand a trade to a high-quality, veteran-friendly destination. Waiving the NTC would weaken this leverage significantly.

Career Control: Vetoing an Unfavorable Trade Destination

At this stage of his career, Cousins is not looking for a rebuilding project; he is looking for a Super Bowl contender. The NTC gives him the power to avoid a career-damaging move to a dysfunctional or non-competitive team. This control is priceless for a veteran quarterback who has already maximized his earnings and is now focused on legacy.

The trade market is unpredictable. If a starting quarterback goes down with a severe injury mid-season, a desperate team might offer a high draft pick to the Falcons. Without the NTC, Cousins could be shipped off to a new city, a new system, and a losing environment overnight. The clause ensures:

• System Fit: Cousins can guarantee he only goes to a team whose offensive scheme matches his skill set, preventing a forced transition to a system that could hurt his performance and future value.
• Commitment to Winning: He can block any trade to a team that is clearly in a rebuild or has a poor track record of supporting veteran quarterbacks. He has the power to select a team with a strong offensive line, proven weapons, and a legitimate shot at the playoffs.
• Avoiding the QB Competition Trap: The drafting of Michael Penix Jr. was a clear signal that the Falcons are planning for the future. While Cousins is the starter, the NTC is his insurance policy. If he were to waive it, he could be traded to another team that immediately drafts a high-round quarterback, putting him right back into a short-term, lame-duck situation. He reportedly considered using the NTC to avoid a team that would draft a quarterback early, highlighting his desire for long-term commitment.

Personal and Family Stability: The Atlanta Anchor

For a player with a family, the stability of a contract and location often outweighs the pursuit of a marginally better team. Cousins and his wife, Julie Cousins, have made it clear that they are committed to their new life in the South.

• The Enduring Legacy Of Haylor 5 Shocking Facts About Harry Styles And Taylor Swifts Relationship 10 Years Later Sf662

• Settled in Atlanta: The Cousins family, including Julie and their children, have actively relocated to the Atlanta area, with the move estimated to be "90 percent complete." Uprooting a family for a mid-career trade is a massive personal sacrifice that the NTC is specifically designed to prevent.
• Quality of Life: The Falcons organization and the city of Atlanta represent a fresh start and a desired location. Waiving the NTC would mean surrendering the right to a stable home life, forcing a second major relocation in a short period. This personal stability is a non-negotiable asset for a veteran player.
• Control Over Retirement Planning: As Cousins nears the end of his career, the NTC allows him to plan his final years with certainty, knowing where his family will be situated and avoiding the stress of last-minute trades that can disrupt his long-term post-football plans.

The Ultimate Leverage: Maximizing Future Opportunities

Kirk Cousins has been an absolute master of contract leverage throughout his career, from his time in Washington to his fully guaranteed deals in Minnesota. His NTC is the final piece of that legacy.

By refusing to waive the clause, Cousins maintains the maximum possible leverage over both the Atlanta Falcons and any interested trade suitors. This leverage can be used for:

• Contract Renegotiation: If a team wants him badly enough, Cousins can demand a contract extension or a restructuring as a condition of waiving the NTC, further increasing his guaranteed money and securing his future.
• Personnel Input: He could potentially demand assurances about the coaching staff or key offensive players as a condition of accepting a trade, ensuring he lands in a situation where he is set up for success.
• Dictating the Timeline: He can wait until after the NFL Draft (potentially rounds 2-3) to assess the quarterback landscape of interested teams, ensuring no new team uses a high pick on his replacement, thus protecting his starting role.

In the high-stakes world of the NFL, a No-Trade Clause is a rare and powerful weapon. For Kirk Cousins, who has already secured his financial future, the NTC is not about money—it's about control, stability, and the right to choose his own destiny. Waiving it would be the single greatest surrender of power in his highly calculated career.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh