Details of Kirk Cousins’ contract with Falcons revealed

Oct 8, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) warms up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Kirk Cousins has secured yet another massive contract.

Cousins on Monday agreed to sign with the Atlanta Falcons. Tom Pelissero reports that the two sides have agreed to a 4-year deal worth worth $180 million. Cousins will get a $50 million signing bonus and $100 million guaranteed.

The #Falcons are signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract that includes a $50M signing bonus, per sources.

Another monster payday for Cousins, who gets $100 guaranteed — $90M in 2024 and ‘25, plus another $10M in 2026 — and a fresh start in Atlanta at age 35. pic.twitter.com/NkFNMzSjF5

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 11, 2024

Cousins has already made well over $200 million in his career by playing under short-term deals. He played under the franchise tag in 2016 and again in 2017 before signing a 3-year, $85 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018. The deal was the first ever fully guaranteed contract in NFL history.

Prior to the 2020 season, Cousins signed a 2-year, $66 million extension with the Vikings that included $61 million guaranteed. He played under a 1-year, $35 million fully guaranteed contract last season.

There was a report last month that the Vikings did not want to sign Cousins to another short-term deal. They also may not have been comfortable giving him $100 million fully guaranteed given that he is 35 and coming off Achilles surgery.

Even after suffering a major injury, Cousins was still able to land a massive deal. He also has strong ties to the Atlanta area, so he has to be pleased with how things turned out.