Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons, Quarterback
Age: 37y-6m-18d (Aug 19, 1988)
Exp: 14 Years
Country: US
College: Michigan State
Drafted: Round 4 (#102 overall), 2012
Agent(s): Mike McCartney (VaynerSports)
2026 Cap Hit

$24,600,000

2026 Cash

$12,100,000

Career Earnings

$321,692,254

2024-2027 Free Agent (CURRENT)

Kirk Cousins signed a 4 year, $180,000,000 contract with the Atlanta Falcons, including $50,000,000 signing bonus, $100,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $45,000,000. In 2026, Cousins will earn a base salary of $2,100,000 and a roster bonus of $10,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $24,600,000 and a dead cap value of $35,000,000.
Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $180,000,000
Average Salary:
$45,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$50,000,000
GTD at Sign:
$90,000,000
Total GTD:
$100,000,000
Free Agent:
2028 / UFA
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2024 36 $25,000,000 9.79% $62,522,768 $62,522,768 $90,000,000
2025 37 $40,000,000 14.33% $27,500,000 $90,022,768 $75,000,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2026, 2 YR, $90,022,768; $35,000,000 DEAD CAP
2026 38 $24,600,000 8.17% $12,100,000 $102,122,768 $35,000,000
2027 39 $90,400,000 28.37% $77,900,000 $180,022,768 $12,500,000
2028 40
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Proration Roster Bonus Cap Hit Cap % League Dead Cap
2024 36 $12,500,000 $12,500,000 - $25,000,000 9.79% $90,000,000
2025 37 $27,500,000 $12,500,000 - $40,000,000 14.33% $75,000,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2026, 2 YR, $90,022,768; $35,000,000 DEAD CAP
2026 38 $2,100,000 $12,500,000 $10,000,000 $24,600,000 8.17% $35,000,000
2027 39 $67,900,000 $12,500,000 $10,000,000 $90,400,000 28.37% $12,500,000
2028 40
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2024 36 $12,500,000 $50,000,000 - $62,522,768 $62,522,768 $180,022,768
2025 37 $27,500,000 - - $27,500,000 $90,022,768 $117,500,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2026, 2 YR, $90,022,768; $35,000,000 DEAD CAP
2026 38 $2,100,000 - $10,000,000 $12,100,000 $102,122,768 $90,000,000
2027 39 $67,900,000 - $10,000,000 $77,900,000 $180,022,768 $77,900,000
Contract Notes
  • $90M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2024 salary + 2025 salary)
  • 2026 Roster Bonus: $10M (fully guarantees the 5th league day of 2025 (injury guaranteed at signing)
  • 2027 Roster Bonus: $10M (5th league day of 2027)
  • 2026 Renegotiation
    2026 salary reduced from $35 to $2.1M
    2027 salary increased from $35M to $67.9M
    2027 salary becomes fully guaranteed March 13, 2026
  • Full No Trade Clause
  • Annual Incentives
    Super Bowl Win (50% snaps): $2M
Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2022-2023 Extension

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $35,000,000
Average Salary:
$35,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$25,000,000
GTD at Sign:
$35,000,000
Total GTD:
$35,000,000
Free Agent:
2024 / UFA
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2020-2022 Extension

Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $66,000,000
Average Salary:
$33,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$30,000,000
GTD at Sign:
$31,000,000
Total GTD:
$66,000,000
Free Agent:
2023 / UFA
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2018-2020 Free Agent

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $84,000,000
Average Salary:
$28,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$3,000,000
GTD at Sign:
$84,000,000
Total GTD:
$84,000,000
Free Agent:
2021 / UFA
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2017-2017 Franchise Tag

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $23,943,600
Average Salary:
$23,943,600
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2018 / UFA
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2016-2016 Franchise Tag

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $19,953,000
Average Salary:
$19,953,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
$19,953,000
Total GTD:
$19,953,000
Free Agent:
2017 / UFA
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2012-2015 Rookie

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $2,572,688
Average Salary:
$643,172
Signing Bonus:
$472,688
GTD at Sign:
$472,688
Total GTD:
$472,688
Free Agent:
2016 / UFA
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Seasons

14 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$321,692,254

Earnings w/ Different Teams

3 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2012 24
Active
$862,688
$862,688
2013 25
Active
$480,000
$1,342,688
2014 26
Active
$570,000
$1,912,688
2015 27
Active
$824,007
$2,736,695
2016 28
Active / Franchise Tag
$19,953,000
$22,689,695
2017 29
Active / Franchise Tag
$23,950,935
$46,640,630
2018 30
Active
$26,000,000
$72,640,630
2019 31
Active
$28,000,000
$100,640,630
2020 32
Active
$40,028,856
$140,669,486
2021 33
Active
$21,000,000
$161,669,486
2022 34
Active
$40,000,000
$201,669,486
2023 35
Injured
$30,000,000
$231,669,486
2024 36
Active
$62,522,768
$294,192,254
2025 37
Active
$27,500,000
$321,692,254
Total      
$321,692,254
$321,692,254
2026 38
Active
$12,100,000
2027 39
Active
$77,900,000
Total
$411,692,254

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
6 $45,996,600 $472,688 - - - $171,342 $46,640,630
6 $95,500,000 $58,000,000 $10,000,000 $20,500,000 $1,000,000 $28,856 $185,028,856
2 $40,000,000 $50,000,000 - - - $22,768 $90,022,768
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2012
24
$390,000
$472,688
$862,688
$862,688
2013
25
$480,000
$480,000
$1,342,688
2014
26
$570,000
$570,000
$1,912,688
2015
27
$660,000
$164,007
$824,007
$2,736,695
2016
28
$19,953,000
$19,953,000
$22,689,695
2017
29
$23,943,600
$7,335
$23,950,935
$46,640,630
2018
30
$22,500,000
$3,000,000
$500,000
$26,000,000
$72,640,630
2019
31
$27,500,000
$500,000
$28,000,000
$100,640,630
2020
32
$9,500,000
$30,000,000
$500,000
$28,856
$40,028,856
$140,669,486
2021
33
$21,000,000
$21,000,000
$161,669,486
2022
34
$5,000,000
$25,000,000
$10,000,000
$40,000,000
$201,669,486
2023
35
$10,000,000
$20,000,000
$30,000,000
$231,669,486
2024
36
$12,500,000
$50,000,000
$22,768
$62,522,768
$294,192,254
2025
37
$27,500,000
$27,500,000
$321,692,254
Total
$181,496,600
$108,472,688
$20,500,000
$10,000,000
$1,000,000
$222,966
$321,692,254
$321,692,254
2026
38
$2,100,000
$10,000,000
$12,100,000
2027
39
$67,900,000
$10,000,000
$77,900,000
Total
$251,496,600
$108,472,688
$20,500,000
$30,000,000
$1,000,000
$222,966
$411,692,254

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
6 $45,996,600 $472,688 - - - $171,342 $46,640,630
6 $95,500,000 $58,000,000 $10,000,000 $20,500,000 $1,000,000 $28,856 $185,028,856
2 $40,000,000 $50,000,000 - - - $22,768 $90,022,768

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2023 MIN 9 - 18 Achilles
2021 MIN 17 - 17 COVID-19
  • Jan 06, 2026 Agreed to a restructured contract with Atlanta that reduces his 2026 salary from $35M to $2.1M, adding the $32.9M difference to his 2027 salary.
  • Mar 11, 2024 Signed a 4 year $180 million contract with Atlanta (ATL)
  • Mar 14, 2023 Converted a $20M roster bonus into signing bonus, adding 2 void years, clearing $16M of cap with Minnesota (MIN)
  • Mar 13, 2022 Signed a 1 year $35 million contract extension with Minnesota (MIN)
  • Mar 16, 2020 Signed a 2 year $66 million contract extension with Minnesota (MIN)
  • Mar 13, 2018 Signed to a 3 year $84 million contract with Minnesota (MIN)
  • Mar 13, 2017 Signed a 1 year $23.9 million franchise tag with Washington (WAS)
  • Mar 01, 2016 Signed a 1 year $19.953 million non-exclusive franchise tag for 2016
  • May 31, 2012 Signed a 4 year $2.57 million contract with Washington (WAS)
  • Apr 28, 2012 Drafted by Washington (WAS): Round 4 (#102 overall)
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Pass Attempts Pass Completions Pass Completion % Pass Yards Pass Yards/Gm Pass Touchdowns Pass Interceptions Pass Rating Rush Attempts Rush Yards Rush Touchdowns Fum
2025 ATL 11 8 543 49.54 269 166 61.7 1,721 156.5 10 5 84.81 14 7 1 3
2024 ATL 14 14 913 79.88 453 303 66.9 3,508 250.6 18 16 88.62 23 0 0 13
2023 MIN 8 8 512 45.67 311 216 69.5 2,331 291.4 18 5 103.78 14 25 0 7
2022 MIN 17 17 1,114 95.38 643 424 65.9 4,547 267.5 29 14 92.46 31 97 2 7
2021 MIN 16 16 1,087 95.35 561 372 66.3 4,221 263.8 33 7 103.10 29 115 1 12
2020 MIN 16 16 1,082 100.00 516 349 67.6 4,265 266.6 35 13 105.00 32 156 1 9
2019 MIN 15 15 982 94.80 444 307 69.1 3,603 240.2 26 6 107.40 31 63 1 10
2018 MIN 16 16 1,051 100.00 606 425 70.1 4,298 268.6 30 10 99.70 44 123 1 9
2017 WAS 16 16 1,012 99.50 540 347 64.3 4,093 255.8 27 13 93.85 49 179 4 13
2016 WAS 16 16 1,063 100.00 606 406 67.0 4,917 307.3 25 12 97.22 34 96 4 9
2015 WAS 16 16 1,027 95.90 543 379 69.8 4,166 260.4 29 11 101.58 26 48 5 9
2014 WAS 6 5 357 33.90 204 126 61.8 1,710 285.0 10 9 86.44 7 20 0 2
2013 WAS 5 3 238 20.80 155 81 52.3 854 170.8 4 7 58.37 4 14 0 3
2012 WAS 3 1 95 9.20 48 33 68.8 466 155.3 4 3 101.56 3 22 0 1

Calculated Market Value

$10.7M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

  • 1 years, $10,717,405
  • Avg. Salary: $10,717,405
  • NFL Rank: 247
  • QB Rank: 22

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2028
  • Avg. Salary: $45,000,000
  • NFL Rank: 15
  • QB Rank: 14

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Kirk Cousins to.

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Joe Flacco 1 $4,250,000 $4,250,000 40
Aaron Rodgers 1 $13,650,000 $13,650,000 41
Russell Wilson 1 $10,500,000 $10,500,000 36
Tyrod Taylor 2 $12,000,000 $6,000,000 34
Averages 1 $10,100,000 $8,600,000 37.8

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Cousins's current age (37), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
2 $19,773,810 $9,886,905

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Cousins statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, Snaps %, Pass Yds/Gm, Pass TD/Gm, Pass INT/Gm, Pass Comp%, Pass Rat, Rating

Player GP% Snaps % Pass Yds/Gm Pass TD/Gm Pass INT/Gm Pass Comp% Pass Rat Rating
Joe Flacco
2023-2024
 38.24 63.60 259.77 1.92 1.15 62.80 90.35 72.90
Aaron Rodgers
2023-2024
 52.94 49.00 216.50 1.56 0.61 31.50 65.06 58.60
Russell Wilson
2023-2024
 76.47 75.60 213.54 1.62 0.50 65.05 96.81 38.75
Tyrod Taylor
2022-2023
 41.18 22.65 99.93 0.43 0.29 69.70 91.97 64.85
Average 52.21 52.71 197.44 1.38 0.64 57.26 86.05 58.78
Kirk Cousins
2024-2025
 73.53 64.70 209.16 1.12 0.84 64.30 86.72 75.80
Pct Change 40.84 22.75 5.94 -18.84 -31.25 12.29 0.78 28.96
Median Prime % Change 9.12%
Average Prime % Change 7.68%

Calculated Market Value: Kirk Cousins

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms Avg. Salary
1 years, $10,717,405 $10,717,405
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