Kirk Cousins faces uncertainty as he enters the 2025 season after being benched by the Atlanta Falcons. This comes following a four-year, $180 million contract signed a year ago, which now raises questions about his future with the team. Despite impressive career stats, including nearly 43,000 passing yards and 288 touchdowns, Cousins' job security is in jeopardy as the Falcons may not be willing to release him due to financial commitments. ESPN's Adam Schefter suggests that Cousins prefers an early release to explore other opportunities, but the Falcons' financial situation complicates this.

The Atlanta Falcons continue their pursuit of enhancing their secondary by targeting free agent safety Jordan Fuller. After a disappointing season with Justin Simmons, Fuller emerges as a promising candidate due to his previous success under Falcons' coach Raheem Morris when he was with the Los Angeles Rams. Notably, Fuller was pivotal during the Rams' Super Bowl run in 2021, showcasing exceptional stats with 279 tackles and 7 interceptions in four seasons. His versatility, particularly in zone coverage and as a deep safety, could complement the capabilities of current safety Jessie Bates, making this potential signing strategically beneficial for the Falcons' defense.

The Atlanta Falcons are still evaluating their wide receiver group despite significant production from Drake London, who had a standout 2024 season with 100 receptions for 1,271 yards and 9 touchdowns, establishing chemistry with rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. As the team looks towards the 2025 season, the Falcons face crucial decisions regarding potential acquisitions. While they have shown interest in adding depth at the receiver position, the focus remains on addressing defensive needs, given their limited draft picks and salary cap constraints.

The Atlanta Falcons are in a precarious position as they head into the 2025 offseason. Despite improvements in their running game, they finished with a disappointing 8-9 record and an alarming 30th place in the NFL for pass-rush efficiency, achieving merely a 28.4% pressure rate. The team's lack of consistent pressure allowed opposing offenses to exploit their secondary, resulting in a need for a significant defensive overhaul.

While the Falcons enjoyed a strong performance from their offensive line, anchored by Chris Lindstrom, their pass rush was notably ineffective, even after acquiring Matthew Judon. With several key free agents like Judon and Justin Simmons likely to depart, the Falcons are expected to aggressively target defensive talent in the upcoming NFL Draft to address their glaring weaknesses on that side of the ball.

With NFL free agency approaching, teams are evaluating their top free agents. The Arizona Cardinals are focusing on Baron Browning, who has quickly become a key contributor after being traded from the Broncos. Meanwhile, the Falcons must decide on Drew Dalman, whose performance remains elite despite injury concerns. The Ravens are keen on retaining Ronnie Stanley, while the Bills face decisions around standout corner Rasul Douglas and fellow free agent Amari Cooper.

In other developments, the Bengals franchise-tagged Tee Higgins, a decision reflecting his value despite injury struggles in recent seasons. The Browns are poised to let Nick Chubb hit free agency, contemplating his return after a tough season. The Cowboys face tough choices with both Demarcus Lawrence and breakout running back Rico Dowdle on the market. Meanwhile, the Broncos may part ways with Javonte Williams, who has not fully rebounded from a significant knee injury.