The NFL trade deadline on Tuesday at 4 PM EST resulted in significant changes across the league, with teams reshaping their playoff aspirations and future strategies. Notably, the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles made headlines for their impressive trade maneuvers, while the Atlanta Falcons faced an unexpected financial burden with quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Key Trade Outcomes
The NFL trade deadline on Tuesday revealed a flurry of activity, as teams scrambled to make impactful moves. The New York Jets emerged as one of the standout winners, trading away stars Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. In return, they received a notable collection of draft picks, including three first-round selections and a second-round pick spanning the 2026 and 2027 drafts.
The Philadelphia Eagles also received accolades for their strategic trades, managing to enhance their defense by acquiring pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and cornerback Michael Carter II without overspending. Conversely, teams like the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs opted to stand pat, leaving fans disappointed as midseason enhancements failed to materialize.
The $90 Million Backup Quarterback
One of the most compelling stories from this season revolves around Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons. In March 2024, Atlanta signed him to a lucrative four-year, $180 million contract, which included $90 million in guaranteed money. Initially, the move appeared promising for a franchise in search of quarterback stability. Cousins, having recovered from an Achilles injury in Minnesota, had established a reputation as an efficient passer and skilled negotiator.
However, a surprising turn of events occurred when the Falcons selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick just six weeks after signing Cousins. This decision shocked the league; Cousins had yet to take the field for Atlanta, and the prospect of his replacement was already in the quarterback room. The scenario complicated Cousins’ position within the team. He began the 2024 season as the established leader but transitioned to a backup role as Penix took over the starting duties.
While the Falcons explored trading Cousins throughout the 2025 season to alleviate some of his substantial salary, no viable options arose before the trade deadline. Consequently, the team is now obligated to pay Cousins $90 million for just 15 games—14 starts in the last season plus one so far this year. This staggering sum translates to approximately $6 million per game, an astonishing cost for a player now expected to merely serve as a backup.
Financial Triumphs and Legacy
Kirk Cousins’ financial journey is nothing short of remarkable. Over more than a decade, he has turned precise timing and a methodical approach into a lucrative venture. Cousins was franchise-tagged twice by Washington, earning $46 million over two seasons, which set him on a path to maximize his future earnings. In 2018, he made history by signing the first fully guaranteed contract for a quarterback, securing $84 million with the Minnesota Vikings.
He continued to build on that foundation with a two-year, $66 million extension and a subsequent one-year, $35 million deal, bringing his total earnings in Minnesota to around $230 million. Adding in his earnings from Washington and his early seasons with Atlanta, Cousins has reached approximately $321 million in career cash earnings.
Thanks to the guarantees in his current contract with the Falcons, he is set to receive the full $90 million regardless of further starting opportunities, bringing his total guaranteed career earnings up to about $384 million. If he remains on Atlanta’s roster through 2027, that total may increase to around $411 million, placing him among the top three highest earners in NFL history alongside legends Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.
Cousins’ strategy of betting on himself has paid off, establishing him not only as a quarterback but as an exemplary case study in maximizing opportunities within the NFL business landscape.
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