Falcons land free agent Kirk Cousins for $180M. What are the grades for Falcons QB signing?

The NFL feeding frenzy kicked off in earnest on Monday with a bevy of names switching jerseys for the season. Kirk Cousins was the biggest quarterback to get a new gig. He is now the Atlanta Falcons man under center for the next four years to the tune of $180 million with $100 million guaranteed.

The most noteworthy aspect of the transaction is Cousins age and the fact that he is coming back from an Achillies injury. But the money and duration are largely a response to what the 35-year-old has done throughout his career and what the Falcons have so desperately needed.

Through 12 seasons, Cousins has peppered in four Pro Bowl nods, with the most recent being in 2022, when he amassed 4,547 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. Prior to his injury plagued 2023 season, Cousins had played in 15 or more games in each of the eight previous seasons. He also boasted a completion rate of 65.9% or better, save the 2017 campaign.

Every NFL team deals with a painfully finite window of relevance. Atlanta boasts one of the most promising offenses with players like Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson and Drake London. What they need is a consistent force to bring it altogether.

Whether or not the Falcons overspent on an aged and broken quarterback or found their savior will take some time to answer fully. But so far, the jury is fairly unanimous that the Falcons made the right call.

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Kirk Cousins Atlanta Falcons free agent signing grades:

DraftKings: Grade A

There is nothing all that spicy about Cousins who comes in and does the job, like a slice of bread when you're feeling peckish. But you can't knock a move that immediate fills a need, and does so with a relative assurance of consistency.

Chet Gresham writes, "It feels a little weird to give Cousins an A for anything, as he is more of a B- quarterback, but the Falcons desperately needed to make a move like this, especially in a division that is very much up for grabs"

Bleacher Report: Grade A

Cousins undoubtably answers the Falcons most pressing question. He comes in with a history of being a steadfast presence under center, which serves this team well especially considering their other offensive weapons.

Brent Sobleski writes, "The Falcons lured the top quarterback on the free-agent market. They did so because they had to. With that goal accomplished, they can now begin to build something of substance."

ESPN: Grade B

One thing that Walder notes is that Cousins was shining right before his injury. There is still a lot of gas in the tank for a quarterback that had a 69.5% completion rate and 18 touchdowns through eight games in 2023.

Seth Walder writes, "In Cousins, the Falcons have acquired a long-time good-but-not-perfect quarterback. In an optimal environment, a team could be a true contender with him under center."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kirk Cousins Falcons contract: Grades are in for $180M FA signing