The Kirk Cousins experiment in Atlanta is coming to an expensive end.
Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham confirmed at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team will release Cousins before March 13, officially closing the book on a two-year run that never quite delivered the return Atlanta envisioned.
Falcons to Move On from Kirk Cousins
The organization had already telegraphed its intentions in January by restructuring his contract in a way that made keeping him financially untenable once the new league year began. Now it’s all but officially official after Cunningham’s comments.
Atlanta will absorb a significant cap penalty to move on. An outright release would cost the Falcons $35 million in dead money this season. A post-June 1 designation would spread that hit ($22.5 million in 2026 and $12.5 million in 2027), softening the short-term blow but extending the financial consequences.
Cunningham said making the decision public now was done out of “fairness” to Cousins, giving the 14-year veteran time to explore his market. Cousins has already stated he intends to play a 15th season in 2026.
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesOn the field, the numbers didn’t justify the price tag. Cousins went 5-3 in eight starts while filling in for the injured Michael Penix Jr., but the advanced metrics painted a harsher picture. He finished 31st in EPA per dropback (-0.02), and his efficiency dipped across the board, 61.7% completion rate, 172.1 passing yards per game, and 6.4 yards per attempt, all his lowest marks since 2013.
The previous season wasn’t much better relative to expectations. After signing what was then the richest total-value free-agent contract in league history, Cousins ranked 24th in EPA per dropback, 29th in passer rating, and middle-of-the-pack in yards per attempt. He ultimately earned $100 million of the deal’s $180 million potential value across two seasons.
Jets Plan to Keep Breece Hall
It appears Breece Hall won’t be testing the open market next month. Speaking from the NFL Scouting Combine, Jets General Manager Darren Mougey made it clear the organization intends to keep its top running back in the building, one way or another:
GM Darren Mougey on Breece Hall's future: "The tags are an option. Ideally, we'll find a way to get a deal done" pic.twitter.com/1QX0Mz4bTx
— New York Jets (@nyjets) February 24, 2026If the two sides can’t finalize a long-term extension before the deadline, the team is prepared to use the franchise or transition tag to prevent Hall from reaching unrestricted free agency.
“The tags are an option,” Mougey said. “Ideally, we’d find a way to get a deal done and keep Breece around. … We’ll find a way to keep Breece here if we can’t get a deal done.”
Around the league, the expectation is that New York would lean toward the transition tag rather than the Franchise Tag. The Transition Tag is projected to come in around $11 million, compared to roughly $14.5 million for the franchise designation. The key difference: the Transition Tag would allow Hall to negotiate with other teams, though the Jets would retain the right to match any offer sheet. However, they would not receive draft compensation if they decline to match.
The tag deadline is March 3, giving the Jets just over a week to hammer out a long-term extension before turning to the fallback option. Either way, it doesn’t sound like Hall is going anywhere.
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesLions Headed to Munich in 2026
The Detroit Lions are going global next season. The team announced Tuesday that it will host a game in Munich, Germany, during the 2026 campaign as part of the NFL’s continued push into international markets. The matchup marks a significant milestone for a franchise that has steadily built its presence overseas. particularly in Germany.
Lions President and CEO Rod Wood called the opportunity “thrilling,” noting the organization’s investment in the German market through the NFL’s Global Markets Program. Detroit currently holds international marketing rights in Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland, making Munich a natural landing spot.
The game will carry added meaning for All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The star wideout, whose mother is from Cologne, has long spoken about his desire to play in Germany. St. Brown is fluent in German and has built a strong following there through offseason visits and youth football camps.
We had Amon-Ra St. Brown's mom, Miriam surprise him with the news ?? pic.twitter.com/jxFzmzrRJI
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) February 24, 2026“It has been a dream of mine to play a game in my mother’s home country,” St. Brown said. “I’m looking forward to showcasing Detroit football on an international scale.”
The announcement had been anticipated for months, pairing one of the NFL’s rising contenders with one of its fastest-growing global markets. Now it’s official: the Lions will take the field in Munich in 2026.
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesExtra Points
ICYMI: Bears General Manager Ryan Poles and Head Coach Ben Johnson held court at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Poles discussed the ongoing Ian Cunningham compensatory pick situation, Tyson Bagent Trade rumors, and more. Meanwhile, Johnson offered a look into the team’s plans for left tackle and free agency.
Jets GM Darren Mougey on QB Justin Fields’ future with the team: “Justin [Fields] is on the roster, and just like every other position on the roster, we’re going to evaluate the quarterback position through every landscape.” No answer (and no surprise) on Travis Kelce’s future from Chiefs GM Brett Veach today at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis:#Chiefs GM Brett Veach, on the future of Travis Kelce: "Travis is the best. He's an icon… We'll just let that process play out."
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2026 Houston Texans GM Nick Caserio called the idea of a C.J. Stroud trade “moronic” today at the Combine. Steelers GM Omar Khan on Aaron Rodgers: “I think we’re going to have an answer sooner rather than later … It’s fluid, I’ll just say that. I don’t expect this to be like it was last year.” Sounds like no darnkness retreat for Rodgers this time around. Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan on QB Tua Tagovailoa, and a potential trade: “Everything is on the table, including the possibility of a trade.” Sullivan said the team is in the process of finding a new franchise quarterback and that the team’s preference is a trade over a release. Either way, it sounds like Tagovailoa has taken his final snap in Miami.Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan on Tua Tagovailoa status “everything is on table, including possibility of a trade.”Sully said Tua hasn’t requested a trade. As we’ve noted, Dolphins are in process of finding new franchise QB & team preference is a trade over a release. We’ll see. pic.twitter.com/p6aiKUrRSb
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) February 24, 2026 Alrighty …The Browns are adding longtime NFL coach Dom Capers to the coaching staff as a senior defensive assistant, per sources. Capers, 75, a two-time head coach, was last with the Carolina Panthers. pic.twitter.com/3mjDpIpV2N
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 24, 2026Hence then, the article about around the nfl falcons to move on from kirk cousins jets plan to keep breece hall more was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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