The Atlanta Falcons have a new starting quarterback in veteran Kirk Cousins, and as a result, they have some real hope they can finish first in the NFC South next season.
Cousins is 35 years of age and coming off a torn Achilles, but prior to his injury, he was playing at a high level, and he was named to the Pro Bowl in three of the previous four seasons.
Per James Palmer, Cousins will wear No. 18 after he donned No. 8 for the past decade.
Kirk Cousins will wear No. 18 this year with the #Falcons
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) March 18, 2024
Cousins came into the NFL as a fourth-round draft pick of the then-Washington Redskins in 2012, and although it took him four seasons to become a full-time starter, he took off like a bottle rocket at that point.
He got Washington to the playoffs in 2015, his first year as a full-time starter, while leading the NFL in completion percentage, and the following year he earned his first of four Pro Bowl nods.
Last season, he threw for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns in eight games before he suffered his Achilles injury.
The Falcons went 7-10 last season and haven’t had a high-level QB since Matt Ryan was still a productive player, but they do have a couple of real weapons in wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson.
Robinson had a strong rookie season with 976 rushing yards, 487 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns from scrimmage, and it seems big-time stardom is written all over him.
In addition, 23-year-old tight end Kyle Pitts seems to have developed into a reliable player.
NEXT:
Kirk Cousins Has A Message For People Complaining About His Earnings