Dan Graziano of ESPN outlined the chances that the Falcons could bench Cousins in favor of rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who the team selected No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL draft in a move that surprised just about everyone outside of the organization, as well as some inside of it -- Cousins included.

The Vikings certainly have no ill will towards Cousins because he was extremely popular in the locker room before he left and was a strong and accurate passer. But if the Vikings had kept Cousins for another tour of duty, they would have had to give him a contract similar to the one he signed with the Falcons.