Did Atlanta Falcons Overpay for Kirk Cousins? 'Bitter' Cam Newton Rips Signing

Since signing with the Atlanta Falcons, quarterback Kirk Cousins has been the subject of criticism from Cam Newton.

Dec 16, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton watches a game between the Howard / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Falcons finally found their franchise quarterback this offseason with the free-agent signing of Kirk Cousins. So far, the four-year, $180 million contract that secured Cousins for Atlanta has received a largely positive reception. However, there has been at least one very vocal critique of the move: former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.

In his recent appearance on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast hosted by Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and now turned cohost of ESPN’s “First Take” sports debate show, Shannon Sharpe, where he continued to question the signing of Cousins.

"What the Falcons paid for Kirk Cousins, they could have got Cam Newton, Justin Fields, and Michael Vick for that price,” Newton said. “I'm not saying that to shame Cousins, my take personally was, 'Cam's getting old, he ain't getting no younger, he 32 at the time. …

“So how am I supposed to feel? Because the same questions and the same concerns that you had with me, obviously you don't overlook that. You see, you don't have those same concerns with him. And if you give Cousins my resume, he probably would've got more money. But I'm tripping, I'm bitter, and I'm mad."

Dec 12, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) passes / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

This is the second time Newton has alluded to the opinion that the Falcons overpaid to land the 35-year-old quarterback. In the initial aftermath of the signing, Newton criticized the move because Cousins had just one win in the postseason. That was before he asked why they didn’t just trade for Justin Fields.

On the surface, at the time, it could’ve made sense, considering Fields was available as the Chicago Bears were looking to move on. However, Newton’s argument that they should’ve just traded for Fields was hypocritical.

If finding a quarterback who can help the Falcons make the postseason and win games in it, then why should they trade for a signal-caller who has yet to even play on a team with a .500 record?

As for Newton’s insertion of himself and Vick into the conversation, the latter is 43 years old, hasn’t been in the league since 2015, and has retired. Meanwhile, Newton is a year younger than Cousins at 34, except his last attempt at being a starting quarterback didn’t end well back in 2021. 

After returning to the Carolina Panthers in 2021, Newton started in five of his eight appearances, where he threw for 684 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions, while the Panthers were winless with the former league MVP under center.