Falcons Contending With Kirk Cousins: Accurate or Overreaction?

The Atlanta Falcons improved by signing Kirk Cousins, but can they truly consider themselves among the NFL's elite teams?

The Atlanta Falcons made the biggest splash of free agency so far, signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a massive four-year contract last week.

Atlanta had been suffering from poor quarterback play since Matt Ryan's departure during the 2022 offseason, with that weakness seemingly being the only thing holding the team back from playoff contention. Now that the Falcons have Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who has consistently been one of the league's better quarterbacks, it seems like they are ready to make that jump.

Or are they? According to Bleacher Report, claiming that the Falcons are now a Super Bowl contender with Cousins is an overreaction.

Sep 10, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium / Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

"Atlanta is undoubtedly better with Cousins under center than it has been with the likes of Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke—the three stop-gap quarterbacks it has tried and failed to install since the departure of Matt Ryan following the 2021 campaign—but that may not be enough to take the team back to the big game," Bleacher Report writes.

Bleacher Report goes on to state that Cousins is entering his age-36 season and is coming off an Achilles injury, along with his general lack of postseason success, as reasons for skepticism regarding Atlanta's title hopes.

Additionally, the Falcons have somewhat neglected their defense through the early part of free agency. Atlanta's defense was significantly improved in 2023 compared to the prior season, but still far from being one of the league's best. The Falcons could still load up on defense at the draft next month, that may not be enough to get them where they want to be.

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"The Falcons should be considered the front-runner in a weak NFC South race, but their ability to do any real damage in the postseason is debatable," Bleacher Report writes.