Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons have not yet been able to find a team that wants to trade for veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, but they're requirements aren't doing them any favors.

During Tuesday's episode of The Adam Schefter Podcast (31:00 mark), ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Falcons asked another team to take on $20 million of his contract as part of a potential trade agreement.

"It's gonna take some money. The Falcons, despite what they've said, have asked other teams to pay some of his contract," Schefter explained. "And I know that they denied that they asked for $20 million from a team, but I went back to that team and they said, 'Yes, no, that's accurate.' So, just for the record, it is accurate that they asked for $20 million initially, and they do want teams to pay a certain guaranteed portion of Kirk Cousins' contract before they trade him."

The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract prior to the 2024 season. Unfortunately, the partnership was ill-fated from the start after Atlanta used the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft to select quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

In 14 starts, Cousins threw a career-high 16 interceptions, which led the entire NFL. He was benched for the final three games and replaced by Penix as the starting quarterback, and the Falcons committed to forging ahead with the youngster for the 2025 campaign.

Instead of releasing Cousins and losing him for nothing, Atlanta chose to explore trading him. However, that has proven difficult without many quarterback-needy teams on the market.

It could be a while before the Falcons find a landing spot for Cousins amid their financial constraints, so the 36-year-old will be backing up Penix for the time being.

Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is bullish about a 2025 NFL draft haul that was somewhat divisive for fans.

Atlanta received a B grade from Bleacher Report after taking Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker and Tennessee edge-rusher James Pearce Jr. in the first round and following up with Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts, Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman Jr. and Wisconsin offensive tackle Jack Nelson.

"It was just an amazing collaboration," Ulbrich said of the draft, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi. "It's the best I've ever been around."

The experienced assistant also praised general manager Terry Fontenot for being aggressive in getting help for the defense.

"I am just excited and appreciative for him putting a lot of trust in us as a defensive staff, and that we're going to utilize [Pearce] in the right way," Ulbrich said.

Walker was the No. 11 overall player on B/R's final big board, so taking him with the No. 15 pick represented good value. Trading back into Round 1 to land Pearce, B/R's No. 29 overall prospect, was a little more contentious. Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report called it "an exorbitant price to pay" with Atlanta sending its 2026 first-rounder to the Los Angeles Rams as part of the swap.

Defense has long been an Achilles' heel for the Falcons. The 2017 season is the time they ranked inside the top 10 in yards and points allowed.

The absence of an elite pass-rusher has been particularly glaring. It looked like the franchise found its man with Vic Beasley, who was an All-Pro in 2016. That year proved to be a major outlier in his career, though.

The Falcons have a lot invested in Pearce succeeding where Beasley failed to meet expectations.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is reportedly drawing trade interest from multiple teams, one of which is very familiar with him.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that "the [Cleveland] Browns, [Pittsburgh] Steelers and possibly [Minnesota] Vikings could be involved in a Cousins trade." Cousins spent six seasons with the Vikings before signing with the Falcons last offseason.

When asked about the possibility of trading Cousins, Atlanta general manager Terry Fontenot told reporters on Wednesday, "We are open to whatever it is if it helps the team."

While a reunion with the Vikings could be intriguing, Russini went on to explain that Cousins' experience of being replaced by Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. late in the 2024 season likely would hinder him from returning to his old franchise.

"Minnesota is looked at as the least likely scenario, given its preference for J.J. McCarthy and that Cousins would need to sign off on any trade he is involved in. It’s believed that Cousins would be against any trade that involves sending him to a situation involving a young QB, similar to the situation he faced in Atlanta last year," Russini stated.

McCarthy is coming off a torn meniscus that cost him his entire rookie year, but the Vikings appear to be confident in moving forward with him as their starter. Still, Minnesota learned last year how important it is to have a reliable backup quarterback, as Sam Darnold put forth a career year and helped lead the team to a 14-3 record before signing with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent this offseason.

The Steelers are still in need of a quarterback while they wait for veteran free agent Aaron Rodgers to make a decision on his future. Trading for Cousins would almost assuredly take Pittsburgh out of the running for Rodgers, leaving the 41-year-old without a landing spot unless something opens up later this summer.

The Browns brought back veteran quarterback Joe Flacco in the wake of Deshaun Watson's recovery from a torn Achilles, but Cousins would be an obvious upgrade. Cleveland also acquired backup Kenny Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this offseason, but the team will need someone more dependable if it hopes to compete for a playoff spot in 2025.

The saga between Cousins and the Falcons could be coming to an end soon, as Russini reported: "If a trade were to happen, I’d expect it to go down on Saturday" during Day 3 of the 2025 NFL draft.

The Atlanta Falcons added Oregon State IOL Joshua Gray as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL draft.

Gray is a five-year starter with his first four years spent at left tackle before transitioning inside to left guard for 12 starts in 2024 inside Oregon State's 57-43 run-pass split, zone-heavy scheme.

Gray is a quick-twitch mover in the run game with good pad level and strong hands to get to his spots on time, fit and establish initial leverage on angle-drive and combination blocks. He is fluid on the move and can intersect targets, but he lacks the contact balance to consistently stay attached as the rep progresses. Gray has mediocre arm length, play strength and power, which creates quick stalemates, soft edges and shaky sustain skills.

In pass protection, Gray's burst and quickness to spots shows up in his sets and when he reaches his spot first. He does his best work closing the runway of rushers on jump sets, clenching and mirroring from there. However, he struggles to navigate space against widely aligned rushers due to erratic strike timing and location with a middling anchor when challenged down the middle.

Overall, Gray has good athletic ability, gets to spots quickly and brings good competitive toughness to strain once attached. However, his lean, narrow frame and middling play strength sap his ability to stay centered and sustain consistently. His best shot in the NFL may be as a swing interior backup inside a zone-based run scheme. He has an outside shot at seeing meaningful snaps at center, although he has never played that position before.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 299

HAND: 9½"

ARM: 31⅜"

WINGSPAN: 78⅝"

40-YARD DASH: 5.04

3-CONE: N/A

SHUTTLE: 4.65

VERTICAL: 31"

BROAD: 8'8"

POSITIVES

— Loose, fluid mover with good athletic ability and very good burst to close ground in a blink.

— Plays with good pad level and strong hands to get under and inside of his target at the point of attack.

— Efficiently times up his overtakes and releases on combination blocks.

— Shows good competitive toughness, effort and strain to look for work when uncovered and drive his feet through contact.

NEGATIVES

— Mediocre arm length, play strength and power create quick stalemates, soft edges and shaky sustain skills.

— Gets to spots very quickly but not always under control, sapping his ability to consistently intersect and stay attached to his target.

NOTES

— Born March 13, 2000

— 3-star recruit from the 2018 class, per 247Sports

— Two-time team captain and three-time second-team All-Pac 12 selection (2020, 2022 & 2023)

— 56 career starts at left tackle (44) and left guard (12)

— Spent seven years at Oregon State and will be a 25-year-old rookie

— Accepted his invite to the 2025 Shrine Bowl

GRADE: 5.7 (Backup/Draftable — 6th-7th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 267

POSITION RANK: IOL29

PRO COMPARISON: C.J. Hanson

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

The Atlanta Falcons added Miami DL Simeon Barrow Jr. as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL draft.

Simeon Barrow Jr. projects as a rotational interior pass-rusher in the NFL. He's a good athlete for his size with impressive quickness, giving him some tools to work with. Right now, he's most effective on line games, as he can cause havoc as either the penetrator or looper.

However, Barrow is a liability against the run. He plays with high pad level and lacks the ability to anchor against offensive linemen. He often gets pushed out of his gap, which will limit his potential suitors in the draft and could make it difficult for him to earn a roster spot as a rookie.

Overall, the former Hurricane is a late-round pick who would be a good target for a team that's looking to add more depth to its interior pass rush.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 283

HAND: 9⅛”

ARM: 32⅜”

WINGSPAN: 77¾”

40-YARD DASH: 4.89

3-CONE: 7.56

SHUTTLE: 4.30

POSITIVES

— Good athlete for his size with impressive quickness and suddenness.

— Fast get-off to occasionally get penetration off the snap when slanting.

— Has a decent cross-chop move to knock offensive linemen's hands down as a pass-rusher.

— Effective on line games. Disguises the game well initially and is aggressive to pick offensive linemen as the penetrator. Has the agility to take efficient paths to the quarterback as the looper.

— Good pass-rush motor to get coverage sacks.

NEGATIVES

— Appears to have shorter arms, limiting his extension on blocks and allowing offensive linemen to get their hands on his chest.

— Plays high and has subpar lower-body strength. Gets pushed around and struggles to fight back against pressure against the running game.

— Lacks rotational strength to keep his shoulders square and avoid getting wheeled out of his gap versus scoop blocks.

— Poor pad level and a lack of strength lead to an ineffective bull rush.

— Needs to rush with a better plan.

NOTES

— Born July 6, 2002

— 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— Injuries: 2021 (Undisclosed, missed 3 games; Hand, wore club to begin season but didn’t miss games)

— Played at Michigan State from 2020 to 2023 before transferring to Miami

— 2024 First-Team All-ACC

— 2023 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten

— 2022 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten

GRADE: 5.7 (Backup/Draftable — 6th-7th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 276

POSITION RANK: DL29

PRO COMPARISON: Marlon Tuipulotu

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has been involved in trade rumors for months, but that hasn't hurt his commitment to the Atlanta Falcons.

Zach Klein of ABC Sports Atlanta reported on Tuesday that Cousins is present for the Falcons' first day of voluntary workouts.

ESPN's Peter Schrager reported that the Falcons have been singing a different tune behind the scenes regarding their desire to trade Cousins.

"Publicly, the Falcons have said they're not interested in trading quarterback Kirk Cousins but that they'd entertain offers if the right deal was on the table. Privately, they have had discussions with teams—and have asked for a lot in return, per sources," Schrager stated.

The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract last offseason, but he was replaced by rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. toward the end of the year. In his 14 games under center for Atlanta, he threw for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and a career-high 16 interceptions, the latter of which tied for the league lead.

It appeared that the Falcons were looking to release Cousins this offseason, but they instead held onto him in hopes of avoiding losing him for nothing. With a cap hit of $40 million this year, he would be an incredibly expensive backup quarterback if Atlanta fails to secure a trade for him before the start of the 2025 campaign.

For now, it appears that Cousins is content to play behind Penix and count his cash while the Falcons explore potential trades for him.

The Atlanta Falcons selected Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

James Pearce Jr. has a lot of natural gifts that give him a very high ceiling in the NFL.

He's a great athlete with very impressive movement skills, long arms and plenty of room for growth on his frame. That shows up the most as a pass-rusher, as he can win around the edge with speed, turn speed to power and effortlessly glide when moving laterally to be an effective looper when working line games or stunts.

However, Pearce is very reliant on his speed and athleticism to win when rushing the passer as his technique needs some fine-tuning. He's still learning how to use his hands to "defeat the hands and defeat the man" as the accuracy and timing with his hands are inconsistent when starting to work a move.

Against the run, the Volunteer has shown more aggressiveness and strength at the point of attack this season to be decent against tight ends, but he needs to add some size and strength to hold up against offensive tackles. Right now, he has a very wiry frame and lacks the sand in his pants to set the edge consistently and avoid getting washed inside.

Offensive linemen who can stay in front of Pearce and match his length will be able to push him around in the ground game. Also, his lack of block recognition will get him in trouble, especially against pullers, and Tennessee didn't trust him to be an every-down player until this season.

Overall, Pearce's natural talent is worth betting on, he's just not a complete product at the moment. Still, he can contribute as a pass rusher early in his career and has plenty of potential considering he'll only be 21 years old on draft day.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 242

ARM: 32¾”

HAND: 10"

WINGSPAN: 80⅞”

40-YARD DASH: 4.47

VERTICAL: 31"

BROAD: 10'3"

POSITIVES

— Good height, looks like he has long arms and room for growth on his frame.

— Impressive athlete who has good movement skills to develop as a pass-rusher.

— Accelerates off the line of scrimmage well to win with speed around the edge paired with a solid rip move and good bend to turn a tight corner at the top of the rush.

— Can win by turning speed to power as a pass-rusher.

— Has the agility and change of direction to be an effective looper on line games, he doesn't have to lose ground to move laterally.

— Occasionally flashed a solid inside spin move as a counter move.

NEGATIVES

— Needs to add size and strength to be an effective run defender at the next level.

— Block recognition against the run is sup-par, especially on the playside of gap runs he's often late to see and get underneath pulling players.

— Timing and accuracy with his hands as a pass-rusher is a work in progress, he's shown growth from last year to this year but is still learning how to effectively use his long limbs when working finesse moves.

— Struggles to break down in the backfield and will miss tackles and sacks against athletic quarterbacks.

NOTES

— Born Oct. 12, 2003

— 4-star recruit in the 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2023 All-SEC First Team

GRADE: 7.9 (Potential Impact Player — 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 29

POSITION RANK: EDGE5

PRO COMPARISON: Shades of Brian Burns

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

The Atlanta Falcons added Kansas CB Cobee Bryant as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL draft.

Cobee Bryant is a long-armed cornerback with standout athletic traits and ball-hawking tendencies. His natural athleticism and length allow him to thrive in bump-and-run coverage, making him an intriguing mid-round prospect. Though his technical skills need refining, Bryant's playmaking ability and aggressiveness stand out.

Bryant excels in using his length to disrupt receivers, especially in press coverage. His ball skills are impressive, showing a knack for tracking and high-pointing throws. However, his top-end speed is questionable, and he shows hip tightness, leading to issues transitioning in coverage. His inconsistent technique can result in wasted movement and poor positioning.

Bryant is a willing and aggressive tackler, filling his role in the run game. Though not the most physical cornerback, he shows good effort in run support and does a solid job wrapping up ball-carriers, often shooting through the thigh boards to secure the tackle.

Cobee Bryant projects as a mid-round pick with the potential to develop into a starter with proper refinement. His ball skills and athletic upside give him a high ceiling, but he will need to improve his technique, transitions, and top-end speed to succeed at the next level.

MEASUREMENT AND TESTING RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 180

HAND: 9¼”

ARM: 31¼”

WINGSPAN: 77"

40-YARD DASH: 4.53

POSITIVES

— Long-armed cornerback that does a very good job of using his length to his advantage, especially in bump and runs.

— Toolsy athlete who consistently flashes a handful of traits. Athleticism and ball skills are a couple of the top traits.

— Has ball hawk tendencies. When able to get his head around and track the ball, he looks to turn into the receiver and highpoint the ball.

— Willing tackler who fills his role. Shows good aggressiveness and throws his body around, shooting through the thigh boards.

NEGATIVES

— Questionable top end speed. Receivers seem to run away from him downfield.

— Shows some hip tightness and trouble transitioning. This prohibits his change of direction, seeming to get stuck in mud at times.

— Loose and inconsistent technique can lead to some wasted movement in transitioning and poor positioning.

NOTES

— Games Started: 46

— 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— 2024 Unanimous First Team All-Big 12; AFCA Coaches Second Team All-America

— 2023: First Team All-Big 12

— 2022: First Team All-Big 12

GRADE: 7.4 (High-Level Backup/ Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 69

POSITION RANK: CB9

PRO COMPARISON: Tariq Castro-Fields

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

The Atlanta Falcons have "asked for a lot" in return for quarterback Kirk Cousins when discussing trades with opposing teams, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

"Atlanta has asked for any acquiring team to pay $20 million of the $45 million worth of guarantees left on Cousins' contract," Schefter reported Monday. "To date, no [team] has been willing to do that, and no team is expected to be willing to."

There's also a "feeling around the league" that a team such as the Minnesota Vikings or Pittsburgh Steelers may be willing to pay down $10 million in order to add Cousins, per Schefter.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer previously reported that the veteran quarterback might wait until after the 2025 NFL draft to accept a trade.

Atlanta could also benefit from being patient, as teams that fail to land a signal-caller near the top of the draft could be more willing to acquire a short-term option under center heading into the 2025 season.

Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract that contained $100 million guaranteed to join the Falcons as a free agent during the 2024 offseason.

In 14 starts with Atlanta, he completed 66.9 percent of his throws for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns compared to 16 interceptions. Cousins was ultimately benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. for the final three weeks of the regular season.

RAIDERS PICK OFF KIRK COUSINS ON THE FIRST PLAY OF THE SECOND HALF 😤

That's Cousins' ninth INT in the last five games 🤯

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/txkxYDJp5j

— ESPN (@espn) December 17, 2024

Opposing teams reportedly aren't willing to meet the Falcons' high asking price, but a trade agreement could still be reached if their compensation demands eventually decrease.

The Atlanta Falcons selected Oklahoma S Billy Bowman Jr. with the No. 118 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Billy Bowman Jr. is a smart, instinctual safety prospect with the versatility to play at multiple levels of the defense. Known for his football IQ and aggressive play style, Bowman has made an impact at Oklahoma with his physical run defense and reliable coverage skills, despite his lack of size and length.

Bowman is a smooth, fluid athlete with a quick change of direction and good ball-tracking ability. His football IQ allows him to anticipate plays and react quickly, making him effective in coverage despite his size. However, his limited length and lack of top-end speed can be exposed against bigger tight ends and receivers, where he may struggle to break out of transitions quickly.

Bowman is a physical run defender who consistently takes on blocks with aggression and technique, using his quickness to slip blocks in space. He tracks ball carriers with great leverage and closing speed, but his smaller frame can occasionally lead to allowing extra yards after contact. His toughness and instincts, however, help mitigate some of these concerns, making him a reliable asset near the line of scrimmage.

Billy Bowman Jr. projects as a third-round pick with the potential to be a high-level backup and eventual starter. His football intelligence and versatility make him a valuable defensive asset, but he must compensate for his size and athletic limitations to reach his full potential at the next level.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 5'10"

WEIGHT: 200

40-YARD DASH: 4.42

VERTICAL: 35½"

BROAD: 10'3"

3-CONE: N/A

SHUTTLE: N/A

POSITIVES

— Instinctual and opportunistic player with high football IQ. He shows to understand what he sees.

— Smooth athlete with fluid hips and good change of direction in the open field.

— Physical run defender who takes on blocks with the necessary aggression and quickness to slip blocks with space. He tracks the ball with great leverage and quick closing speed.

— Shows versatility to play at multiple levels, showing a knack to play close to the line of scrimmage, despite his lack of length.

NEGATIVES

— Limited length and size may present itself in multiple ways. Hangs his hat on his football IQ and instincts but lacks elite athletic ability for his size.

— Though he is fluid and moves well in the open field, he is slower out of breaks and does not have the desired top-end speed.

NOTES

— Born Jan 29, 2003

— Games Started: 41

— 4 Star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: Third Team All-SEC

— 2023: First Team All-Big 12

— 2022: All-Big 12 Honorable Mention

GRADE: 7.5 (Potential Impact Player — 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 60

POSITION RANK: S5

PRO COMPARISON: Tyrann Mathieu

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings